Pandemic Underscores Need for National Interoperability
The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the weak spots in the U.S. healthcare system. Besides the severe shortages of testing, gloves, gowns, masks, hospital beds and ventilators, it’s also revealed shortcomings in interoperability among providers. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released two rules in early March designed to make provider and patient access to data easier. The provider information sharing rule, set to go into motion on September 1, 2020, requires electronic notification of care transitions and makes information blocking illegal. Providers on the front lines of the outbreak and the COVID-19 positive patients they treat can’t wait for the eventuality of interoperable records. They need access now.
To read the full article, authored by Consensus’ John Nebergall, visit Medical Economics.
https://www.medicaleconomics.com/view/pandemic-underscores-need-national-interoperability