Interoperability is the key to the seamless flow of patient data for effective care. Research statistics reveal that physicians need to reorder 3 out of 10 tests because the test results are misplaced. Nearly 80 percent of all critical medical errors are caused by poor communication when patients move from one department or hospital to another. If you search for a clinical data exchange solution, you will find an overwhelming number of options highlighting various features and capabilities. However, after working with CIOs and other health IT professionals for over 20 years, we have developed a shortlist of features to help you make a successful choice. Here are some of the most important factors to consider when you need effective clinical data exchange solutions.
1. Global Interoperability Standards
Interoperability is no longer limited to creating custom interfaces between your electronic health record (EHR) and your lab information system (LIS). All your information systems (regardless of their age and vendor) must communicate effectively with each other and with other hospitals’ information systems.
That’s why you need a solution that conforms with global health integration standards. A solution based on open standards like HL7, FHIR, DICOM, and XDS will make it possible to exchange information securely between multi-vendor applications and information systems.
2. Scalability
Growth is a universal desire for most providers. From the family practice with a few doctors to the 800-bed facility with a regional outreach, there’s a desire to grow and increase capacity to provide higher quality care.
Your clinical data exchange company should make growth seamless and cost-effective. Opt for a solution that can support your network as it grows.
Choose an integration design that has a future-proof foundation. That means that it will be easy for it to adapt to changing needs. Whether you increase the number of users, the number of labs, radiology departments, or you open a new location for care, your solution must be able to cope with changing demands.
3. Security
Security is a regulatory requirement for the transfer of sensitive healthcare information. All storage, sending, and receiving of patient health data must comply with HIPAA regulations.
Ensure that data exchange occurs securely by looking out for the following:
- Configurable access control based on the role of each user
- Capacity to easily obtain patient consent while choosing the user that can access their medical history
- Secure access to all clinical documents
- Detailed audit log for all transactions that involve medical records
4. Customization
What’s the essence of having a solution that can’t adapt to your current workflow? Instead of struggling to get your clinicians to change the way they work, it is better to have a solution that supports your workflow needs.
You also need an interoperability network that can support the type of installation model that suits your operations. For instance, if you have very sensitive applications that need on-premise installation, it should support it. On the other hand, if you need cloud-based or SaaS models, you should have full support for your requirements.
The best solution for your organization will adapt to your workflow instead of forcing a change on you.
Get the Best Clinical Data Exchange Solutions for Your Organization
Contact Lifepoint Informatics now to see a live demo of our proven EMR integration solutions. We use future-proof technology customizable to your workflow, giving you the benefits of cost savings, increased productivity, and better patient care.
Call us now o 877.522.8378 or use our contact page to send us details about your needs today.