Interoperability in Healthcare: The Promise of a Health Information Ecosystem

As federal incentive payments fuel the adoption of electronic medical records (EMRs), there exist greater opportunities for information sharing and interoperability. Meanwhile, the government is promoting the development of an interoperable network of health information exchanges - a critical element for health system improvement. Interoperability promises to support quality improvement and system efficiency. Health information exchanges will continue to mature, and a couple bellwether organizations demonstrate how the market might evolve. This paper addresses the promise of health information exchanges and explains how providers can get involved as they develop.

As federal incentive payments fuel the adoption of electronic medical records (EMRs), there exist greater opportunities for information sharing and interoperability.