Top challenges to Widespread Health Data Interoperability

Despite ongoing policy efforts aimed at promoting health data interoperability, data sharing remains a challenge across the care continuum.Defined as the ability for different systems to access, exchange, integrate and cooperatively use data in a coordinated manner, health data interoperability is key for achieving optimal health outcomes.Not only is seamless data exchange critical for patient-centered care, but it is also necessary to inform population health initiatives, improve public health and alleviate information sharing burdens on clinicians. However, several key barriers stand in the way to a fully interoperable healthcare continuum.Certified EHR adoption is a critical first step toward interoperability, as it enables electronic health information exchange (HIE) that meets the technological capability, functionality and security requirements adopted by HHS.