Efficient clinical data exchange enables healthcare organizations to enhance care quality, reduce hospital readmissions, and control costs. As electronic health record (EHR) systems have become prevalent across healthcare facilities nationwide, a substantial amount of data now resides on providers’ systems. Despite this, sharing clinical data remains a complex endeavor, even with communication networks that could otherwise facilitate swift and seamless exchanges.
One of the major challenges preventing full data interoperability is the inconsistent use of data standards for encoding and organizing health data so that it can be accepted and properly interpreted by the receiving system. Within a provider organization, the absence of common data standards can hinder information sharing between laboratories, pharmacies and healthcare providers. It can also create obstacles between providers and payers.
Since achieving true healthcare interoperability is a top priority for all major providers and other industry stakeholders, we’ll be looking at the major data standards and how they can boost effective health data exchange.
What Are Health Data Standards?
Data standards are methods that have been agreed upon for connecting two or more systems together. Standards may be set for data format, data structure, encoding, data transport, the definition of codes and data security.
This forms the basis of interoperability across healthcare organizations and in between EHR systems. Also, seamless data sharing is essential for providers that want to earn incentive payments through the Promoting Interoperability Program (previously called meaningful use).
Health data standards are created, defined and updated by standards development organizations (SDO) in the healthcare industry. SDOs such as Health Level Seven and DirectTrust have created some of the most widely used standards in the industry. So, what are the most popular standards used in the industry today?
Major Health Data Standards Used for Clinical Data Exchange
The three major healthcare industry standards that provide support for comprehensive data sharing include:
Consolidated-Clinical Document Architecture (C-CDA)
C-CDA was created by the joint effort of ONC, Health Story Project, Integrating Healthcare Environment and HL7. This standard helps EHR systems and their users to create clinical documents that have both Extensible Markup Language (XML) and human-readable text. It has a template library and guidelines on how to use them for different types of documents.
Providers use C-CDAs to create and send the following types of documents:
- Consultation notes
- History and physical summaries
- Procedure notes
- Operative notes
- Diagnostic imaging reports
- Progress notes
Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR)
HL7 developed this Internet-based health data standard to connect discrete data elements. The data elements, also called resources, have standardized and shareable identifiers that work like the URL on a webpage. This allows for discreet data sharing instead of a document-based exchange. FHIR has become popular because it defines the structure of information that is shared across most major EHR implementations.
How Can You Use Data Standards to Improve Healthcare Interoperability?
The key is to collaborate with EHR vendors and custom medical software developers to implement uniform data standards across the organization.
For more information on how to identify ways to implement the most widely used health data standards in your organization, call Lifepoint Informatics at 877.522.8378 for a free consultation today. We have completed more than 20,000 projects with over 500 medical entities over the last 20 years.
Frequently Asked Questions about Clinical Data Exchange and Interface Engines
1. What is Clinical Data Exchange?
Clinical data exchange refers to the process of sharing patient-related data between different healthcare systems and providers. This helps in improving the quality of care, minimizing hospital readmissions, and saving costs by ensuring that critical patient information is accessible when needed.
2. How does an Interface Engine Improve Data Transfer Security?
An interface engine can establish Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) connections for data transfer, which replace traditional Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). SSL connections are more reliable and HIPAA-compliant, offering better security and fewer connection drops, thus safeguarding sensitive patient information.
3. Why Should I Choose Lifepoint Informatics for My HL7 Interface Needs?
Lifepoint Informatics provides robust interface engines tailored to various healthcare departments, including laboratory, radiology, and clinical providers. Their solutions are designed to be cost-effective and easy to implement, significantly reducing the overall expense of creating custom HL7 interfaces.
4. How Can I Get Started with Lifepoint Informatics?
Contact Lifepoint Informatics today to schedule a free consultation and see a demo of their interface engine. The demonstration will showcase how their solutions can simplify and reduce the cost of developing custom HL7 interfaces.
5. Are There Any Consultations or Demos Available?
Yes, Lifepoint Informatics offers free consultations and demos. Reach out to them to learn more about how their interface engines can benefit your organization.
6. What is a Bidirectional Lab API?
A bidirectional lab API is an interface that facilitates the smooth transfer of patient information, test orders, results, and other essential details to and from hospitals, labs, and state registries. It allows real-time communication between healthcare providers and laboratories.
7. How Does a Bidirectional Lab API Improve the Exchange of Patient Data?
A bidirectional lab API allows for the real-time exchange of information between physicians and lab technicians, eliminating information lag and ensuring that test orders and results are communicated instantly. This enhances the overall efficiency and accuracy of patient care.
8. Can a Bidirectional Lab API Help Reduce Redundant Lab Orders?
Yes, improved communication via a bidirectional lab API limits unnecessary lab orders. It allows physicians to communicate directly with lab professionals in real-time, making smarter diagnostic decisions and avoiding redundant data transfers.
9. How Does a Bidirectional Lab API Contribute to Value-Based Care?
By combining bidirectional interfaces with HL7 standards, providers and labs can be connected across the country. This enables access to lab results regardless of location, supporting value-based care and contributing to an efficient national health information system.
10. What Are Health Data Standards?
Health data standards are agreed-upon methods for connecting two or more systems together, encompassing data format, data structure, encoding, data transport, the definition of codes, and data security.
11. What Are the Major Health Data Standards Used for Clinical Data Exchange?
The three major healthcare industry standards that support comprehensive data sharing include:
- Consolidated-Clinical Document Architecture (C-CDA): Helps EHR systems create clinical documents with both XML and human-readable text, including consultation notes, history and physical summaries, procedure notes, operative notes, diagnostic imaging reports, and progress notes.
- Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR): Developed by HL7, this Internet-based standard connects discrete data elements, making them shareable like URLs on a webpage.
12. How Can You Use Data Standards to Improve Healthcare Interoperability?
Collaborate with EHR vendors and custom medical software developers to implement uniform data standards across your organization. For more information on implementing health data standards, contact Lifepoint Informatics at 877.522.8378 for a free consultation.