This is part 2 of the two-part series on Tools for HIEs to Achieve Last-Mile EHR Interoperability.

You can read part one about closing the interoperability gap here.

Part 2 – How HIEs Become Last-Mile Ready

Closing the interoperability gaps can be perceived as a daunting task. In the latest SHIEC webinar, Marilee Benson shared practical HIE Last-Mile Readiness Checklist with the leading Health Information Exchange organizations across the country. Using this readiness checklist helps break down the overwhelming big picture into smaller, attainable subsets. In so doing, HIEs now have a roadmap to becoming the interoperability leader in their region.

The HIE Last-Mile Readiness Checklist has four areas of focus.

#1 – EHR Marketplace Assessment.

This simple assessment should be a living document that is updated at least quarterly. It contains detailed information about EHR vendors being used by providers in the HIEs region. To build the assessment worksheet, include the following items.

• List all the EHR Vendors in the area
• Document the interoperability features available in those EHR systems
• Document the EHRs’ Carequality status
• List the Meaningful Use version for the EHR systems (if applicable)
• Identify key product contacts (not sales) for each of the EHR vendors

#2 – Develop Vendor Specific Tactics. Unfortunately, each EHR vendor is tackling the interoperability challenge differently. There are various levels of technical capabilities offered by the software. And, there are various levels of services/support the vendors will provide to their clients for establishing sustainable health information exchange. Therefore, it is important to at least document the following:

• Identify interoperability support contacts for each EHR vendor
• Research 3rd party engineering/consulting services and vendor resellers in the area that have database and/or interface experience with the EHR vendors
• Inventory the typical costs charged for interoperability services from the EHR vendors
• Identify the types of file formats and data exchange standards the EHR vendors support

#3 – Create an EHR Vendor Resource Center.

Using the HIE’s own website or shared file storage area, provide a library of documentation, processes, and points of contact information for EHR vendors to use. Making it easy for the vendors to contact the HIE and access interoperability specifications will expedite the connectivity process and help foster a stronger partner relationship. To get started, follow these steps.

• Provide a liaison at the HIE to be the primary contact person for EHR vendors
• Publish a connectivity cheat sheet or standards playbook for EHR vendors to access.
• Identify 3rd party interoperability partners the HIE can “approve” or “recommend” to EHR partners when they need help establishing connectivity
• Offer tools, like data quality scoring tools, to identify issues in testing, data transmission, and data management

#4 – Assess Your Own Technology Infrastructure.

To be in a position of strength, HIEs need to have the right technology resources available to them and their EHR partners. Here are several technology stack components that should be included in your technology plans.

• Identify Integration as a Service (IaaS) options – a new form of managed technology services now available within healthcare data exchange. It enables HIEs to direct, form requirements, and customized data flow based on specific use-cases for their community. The IaaS service provider is responsible for making the data flows happen and maintaining data flow in the channels.
• Identify options to automate data normalization. The reality is HIEs will acquire data from many data sources and the data will almost always be in a slightly different format. Tools are available to normalize the data such that it can be compiled for easier distribution to providers and other HIE stakeholders.

It is a very exciting time to be in the HIE arena. Through using checklists, collaborating together, and sharing successes and failures, HIEs and their technology partners will successfully tackle the last-mile connectivity challenge.

As you have questions about how to chart your path to close the interoperability gaps in your region, please reach out to the Zen team immediately. Our sole focus is on helping healthcare organization achieve data fluidity across their community in a secure, effective, and simple way.

Helpful Resources:

To learn more about Last-Mile EHR Connectivity, read our review and resource guide by clicking here.
To learn more about Zen’s strategic interoperability services, click here.
For information on Zen’s Integration as a Service (IaaS) platform, read more about Gemini here.
For a free 15-minute interface engineering consultation, click here to pick a date and time for your discussion. No strings attached!