Report: 6 barriers to electronic exchange of healthcare information
A recent report by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) identified six barriers adversely affecting the electronic sharing of information between hospitals. The report was given to Congress and charts trends and usage of health technology for 2018. The six barriers include:
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Inconsistent technology. A lack of standardized technology and data makes it difficult to share information between hospitals who may utilize different forms of technology and collect various amounts of data in a variety of ways.
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Financial challenges. There is a significant cost associated with maintaining and updating technology in a constantly evolving industry like healthcare, and currently, there are not enough incentives for sharing information electronically to justify this cost.
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Trust barriers. Unfortunately, patient electronic health information may be treated as leverage that can be used to gain or maintain a competitive advantage, particularly from a legal or business standpoint.
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Documentation and administrative requirements. Federal requirements make documentation overly burdensome because of outdated guidelines that mandate unnecessary steps in the record-keeping process.
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Reporting requirements. The government further adds to the documentation burden by requiring the reporting of certain quality measures that may not be overly meaningful or relevant.
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Ease of use. It is no secret that health IT can be difficult for users to navigate, complicating day-to-day use. Some providers even use multiple IT systems, further confusing users and increasing their frustration.
Source: Becker's Hospital Review