DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.

 

Executive Summary for Group 1:  Information Barriers in Healthcare

 

Ms. Hannah Hohendorf, Dr. Wael Khreiss, MD, Mr. Jesus M Rodriguez

 

Assignment Date: November 19, 2016

 

There are numerous barriers to efficient health information exchange. Electronic health records (EHR) have recently become standard practice due to government incentives, however, there are still pockets of providers for which EHR remains out of reach. Interoperability has come to the fore since there are EHR products that are incompatible with each other making patient care transitions difficult. Both of these barriers affect patients by restricting access to health information and slowing the adoption of new health technologies using EHRs.

 

The cost of implementing an EHR remains prohibitive for small physician practices and community or critical access hospitals. This has created a disparity in the care for their patients, especially when attempting to receive care at other institutions. In order to cover the entire care continuum, a governmental strategy must be developed to enable these providers to purchase an EHR product (Health Information Technology Policy Committee, 2015).

 

Lack of interoperability has hindered the exchange of information between EHRs. For patients treated at multiple institutions, the EHRs may not be compatible for efficient data transfer due to the lack of IT standard certification when the government started incentivizing EHR adoption. Therefore, IT companies made products that were incompatible with rival products. Now, organizations have to deal with these compatibility issues since stage 2 of the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record Incentive Program compels organizations to exchange information in a structured format called a continuity of care document (CCD).

 

These barriers prevent all patients from reaping the full benefits that a countrywide interoperable EHR network can provide including 24/7 access to health information, smooth transition of care between providers, and population health advancements. EHRs have created a new era of healthcare delivery in the United States, and no one can be left behind.

 

Reference

Chouffani, Reda. (2011). Barriers to Achieving Health Information Exchange. Meaningful Health Care Informatics Blog. Retrieved from http://searchhealthit.techtarget.com/healthitexchange/meaningfulhealthcareinformaticsblog/page/16/.

 

Health Information Technology Policy Committee. (2015). Challenges and Barriers to Interoperability. Report to Congress.

 

Vest, Joshua R., and Larry D. Gamm. (2010). Health Information Exchange: Persistent Challenges and New Strategies: Table 1. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association J Am Med Inform Assoc 17.3: 288-94. Print.

 

Group 1_Unit9Assignment.pdf

DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.