Why Improving Data Interoperability Is Vital In Sleep Medicine

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Data Interoperability Sleep Medicine

Data interoperability is the ability of healthcare IT software to exchange data without restrictions. By improving data interoperability, healthcare providers can secure their patient’s wellness and maintain a steady business. But what does it mean for sleep medicine practices, and why is it important? 

Four Levels of Data Interoperability

 

For effective healthcare delivery, the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) board defines the following levels of health information technology interoperability.

 

  • Foundational Interoperability refers to the ability to exchange information between two information systems. It is the most basic level of Interoperability. The data receiving systems do not at all require data interpretation ability from the receiving information technology systems.
  • Structural Interoperability refers to the data structure underlying the exchange of information between systems. Standards ensure that data formats are consistent across various systems and unchangeable.
  • Semantic Interoperability. Data at this level is comprehensible, and the two health systems can exchange data and information thoroughly.
  • Organizational interoperability encompasses the ability for social and organizations to exchange data. It also provides seamless and secure data exchange.

 

All systems are connected and integrated with data interoperability, whether the data comes from its end-user or the application. Data should be usable, easy to share, and presentable to the receiver systems before sending. In short, we don’t plan on having one system that does everything, but we intend to connect every form of healthcare with as much information as possible. All parties benefit from this approach.

 

Why Improving Data Interoperability is Vital for Your Sleep Medicine Practice?

 

The advancement of data interoperability results in a more engaging patient experience. When medical professionals devise the treatment plan, they also analyze the details of the illness or injury. It speeds up communication between providers as well as between doctors and their patients. Health care interoperability allows patients’ electronic health records to be accessible, but it’s dependent on medical software vendors sharing exclusive information. Also, sleep medicine providers and other healthcare practices must be open to sharing patient data across networks for use by different databases.

Improving your sleep medicine’s practice interoperability will ensure that:

     1. It has better access to patient records.

Physicians, hospitals, urgent care centers, pharmacies, and specialized medical centers provide healthcare services to patients. It may be difficult for one provider to access a patient’s medical records. Due to this, there is a possibility that this medical information could fragment when spread across various healthcare providers and systems. It will be more difficult for physicians to form a comprehensive picture of the patient’s health. 

 

In sleep medicine, data interoperability allows doctors to access patient records on multiple IT platforms. Improving it will enable doctors to access vast amounts of specific health information about their patients and make accurate diagnoses. Moreover, patients can better track and access their health records. Diagnoses, medications, billing, etc., will be readily available. There’s no need to call a doctor’s office to reach their doctor. 

 

       2. It increases efficiency and reduces costs for your practice.

The ability to present data to care providers in real-time and in a consistent manner improves efficiency. For example, a patient in an emergency room may need blood testing, which costs the healthcare system money and time. If data across organizations are interoperable, a care provider might access a patient’s health record. They can conclude that they had blood tests earlier in the week. That data can be helpful to receive more rapid treatment.

 

Likewise, physicians will no longer waste their time performing repetitive tasks, including patient data entry. An efficient exchange of health data will reduce both administrative and medical tasks. As a result, cases regarding physician burnout will reduce. The delivery of quality care is better that leads to reducing costs in money and streamline workflows.

 

       3. It improves healthcare for chronic sleep issues.

Interoperability provides easy access to medical records for people with chronic sleep disorders. There’s a tendency for these types of diseases to require multiple specialists. Hence, providers must have instant access to electronic health records based on information provided by another clinician to expedite chronic sleep treatments.

 

       4. It provides safer transitions of care.

Around the world, health services aim to provide care to ill patients and help them stay well. Therefore, continuity of care is key to a patient’s well-being, whether dealing with chronic sleep conditions or taking care of an acute situation. Interoperability contributes to better patient outcomes by ensuring safe transitions of care.

 

As an example, a patient on vacation suffers from a sleep disorder and dementia. He may be unable to provide a complete medical history, which can affect the treatment he receives. The doctor can treat the patient faster if the patient’s data is accessible from his location and the patient’s. 

 

      5. It lessens medical errors.

Organizations can prevent medical errors through interoperability by enabling data sharing across systems and applications. 

Integrating your sleep medicine practice with advanced interoperability will help you avoid missing or incomplete data errors. Thus, care providers can comprehend more on how and why these errors occur and take action quickly.

 

      6. Establishing an online messaging app may also help.

Sharing data between hospital platforms before sharing it with patients is a continuing challenge for hospitals. There are still many healthcare settings that rely on fax, phone, and email communication for receiving and transmitting information, despite all of the inherent limitations of these communication methods. If you want to improve interoperability in your sleep medicine, you can make an online messaging application that enables healthcare personnel to communicate seamlessly with each other. This way, everyone has access to the same information at the same time.

 

Taking Interoperability to Another Level

Healthcare professionals need to recognize the importance of interoperability. Your sleep medicine practice needs to stay on top of the interoperability developments in government and industry. It’s because so many of our systems and equipment have over-wired and wireless networks. Stay up to date with our updates!

 

Providing you with the Best

Choose only the best for your Sleep Medicine Practice.

 At 1st Providers Choice, we understand the need and expectations of our clients for a higher level of performance for billing software and EHR. That’s why we only offer the best and tailored medical billing system and EHR with features that will allow your practice to operate at its optimum potential and triple your revenue.

 You can call us at (480) 782-1116 for immediate assistance, or you can schedule a free demo with our experts TODAY.