Is the US Healthcare System Any Closer to Nationwide Interoperability?

The Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) set a goal in 2021 to achieve nationwide interoperability by 2024. But is that still a realistic goal? In this article, we look at the current state of healthcare technology and ask if the US healthcare system is any closer to achieving nationwide interoperability.

What Is Interoperability?

Interoperability is the ability for different parts of a system — such as software applications, hardware components, and data formats — to work together seamlessly. When it comes to healthcare technology, interoperability is crucial for ensuring patient safety and improving care quality. It allows health information to be shared quickly and securely between different systems, making it easier for clinicians to access patient records from multiple sources. There was a time in the not so distant past where we believed interoperability was going to be a foregone conclusion by 2021. But then it wasn’t.

The Current State of Interoperability in US Healthcare

Unfortunately, the current state of interoperability in US healthcare leaves much to be desired. Despite numerous attempts over the years, there are still significant barriers preventing widespread adoption of interoperable systems…