The healthcare interoperability challenge is a hard nut to crack for many CIOs. EHRs have been adopted by about 90% of providers in the U.S. The pandemic has increased the number and range of devices used for remote healthcare. Labs and HIEs and radiology, pathology, and state health departments are all part of the ever-expanding network. Fortunately, application programming interfaces (APIs) are versatile tools for solving the interoperability puzzle. An EHR integration API can be configured to connect information systems within or outside the organization to send or retrieve valuable information.
For instance, an API can link up with an insurance company’s database and retrieve information about a patient’s coverage for a specific type of treatment. That way, denied claims can be reduced. Here are some of the other reasons why you need to invest in APIs for interoperability.
1. High Developer Productivity
Using a versatile integration API for your app development can save several hours per connection every year. From analysis to deployment to maintenance, you can achieve your goals with fewer developers and shorter project completion times.
APIs provide classes, methods, and properties that you can call to retrieve data from popular EHRs. They save hundreds of hours of development effort because expert API designers are tested, upgraded, and supported.
2. Effective Protection of Sensitive Data
Many healthcare integration projects use HL7 v.2. Unfortunately, HL7 specifications do not enforce encryption, and many developers transfer sensitive data between apps and devices without adequate protection.
On the other hand, APIs provide a more secure connection between the application sending out data and the receiver. This allows providers to achieve better compliance with regulations on the transfer of protected health information.
3. Standardized Data Provides Deep Insight
Whether you have just one EHR or your organization uses many EHRs in multiple locations, you can use a single API to standardize connections to each of them.
Standardized data provides a cohesive data set that is easy to use and understand. It also provides raw materials for strategic decision-making and data analytics solutions.
4. Efficient Dashboard for Maintenance and Support
Most APIs are built with efficient management and support systems. A single dashboard allows you to test, manage, and monitor all connections to your EHR.
Apart from showing you all the connections to your EHR, your API integration dashboard will provide messaging and activity logs. You can also generate reports and analyze your connections to improve speed and reduce errors.
5. Low Cost of Integration
Switching to an integration API can drastically reduce integration costs. A trusted API solution tested with a large number of EHR vendors’ products may reduce development time by 50 percent or more.
Working with a robust integration API solution accelerates your growth. It speeds up the rate at which you can integrate new sites and removes resource constraints.
Do You Need a New EHR Integration API?
We can help you integrate your EHR and accelerate your growth simultaneously. Call Lifepoint Informatics today at 877.522.8378 to see a live demo of our interoperability solution, or visit our contact page to book a free consultation.