From Fragmentation To Collaboration: Interoperability In Healthcare

Data is the heartbeat of any business, but it is a different beast altogether when it comes to healthcare. Every heartbeat tracked by an Apple Watch, every patient symptom logged in an EHR and every AI-powered diagnosis has the potential to revolutionize care delivery. However, this torrent of data is a complex web, currently trapped in disparate, disconnected systems. As the CEO of a company that aims to accelerate digital innovation in healthcare, I see effective data management and interoperability as two of the biggest challenges for Healthcare 3.0. Healthcare players pay an astronomical price for disconnected systems. For instance, duplicate records directly affect patient safety, medical service, data accuracy and reimbursement. It also costs healthcare institutions money, which includes the wasted hours doctors spend on electronic health records. In an era when a tap on a smartphone can hail a ride or a check can be deposited with a snap of a picture, why are we still grappling with disconnected data in healthcare? I believe the crux of the problem lies in interoperability, or rather, the lack thereof.