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March 22, 2024
By Andrea Clark, MS, Director, Health Care Economics, and Renee Clark, Care Coordination & Interoperability Manager
The health care system in the United States is unique in many often-cited ways. It does not provide universal coverage, mixes publicly and privately funded insurances, and spends more on care per person than any other wealthy country.
But the US system is similar to that of other countries in one way that was on display at last week’s Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Global Health Conference & Exhibition in Orlando: The challenges of health care information systems, management, and interoperability are worldwide.
But there is good news! Our experience at HIMSS shows that the opportunities for new technology, collaboration, and innovation are limitless, and engaging with partners across the broad health care ecosystem is critical to CareQuest Institute’s mission to improve the oral health of all.
Below, we share some insights we had from the event.
The Importance of Interoperability
HIMSS is a massive event, drawing more than 30,000 attendees and hundreds of presentations. As it does every year, it brought together health care professionals — including oral health care professionals — from across the health ecosystem for expert education, innovation, and collaboration. Attendees built relationships, learned from experts, and discovered innovative health technology solutions to meet their greatest challenges.
The conference was also an eye-opening experience, and opportunity to discuss information sharing, data security, and artificial intelligence (AI) across continents and cultures and hear about challenges and solutions in other countries. One of our focus areas was interoperability.
CareQuest Institute sponsored the Interoperability and HIE Pre-Conference Forum, where Andrea had the opportunity to share information about the Institute’s work in advancing oral health equity and access, and the critical nexus between making oral health care integrated, person-centered, value-based, and interoperable.
Interoperability is necessary for true whole-person care. What is interoperability? Interoperability is the ability for systems from different vendors to share data securely and efficiently. One area of focus for CareQuest Institute is integration between medical and dental providers. With the availability of data, providers can make better informed decisions and improve patient care regardless of their location.
In the US, we’re seeing progress.
The Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement became operational in December 2023, with the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology announcing the first seven Qualified Health Information Networks (QHINs). This launch is a quantum leap for nationwide health care data interoperability in the US, as embodied in the Health Interoperability Outcomes 2030 statements. Below are some of the “aspirational, achievable, and measurable” outcomes identified:
- Individuals will be able to seek and receive care . . . without needing to gather and provide their health information themselves.
- Individuals and health professionals will be able to discover and compare online the cost of a health care service, procedure, or drug.
- All referral and transition of care data will be electronic.
- Individuals will no longer fill out paper forms for any health care encounter or process.
- The health system will enable evidence-based, precision care that accounts for the social and health conditions of each patient, including links between health and human services.
When a patient's health information is available electronically to their provider, access to accurate and up-to-date clinical data will result in an improved outcome and patient experience.
The provider can readily identify high risk conditions, provide evidence-based care, and reduce the duplication of tests and procedures.
Engaging Market Stakeholders to Improve Health IT
The private sector in the US drives change, and the customer is always right. This highlights the critical importance of engaging market stakeholders to demand improved functionality and investments in health IT.
We at CareQuest Institute leverage our trusted advisor role with oral health partners to help dental providers assess their readiness for value-based care, advocate for advances in health IT, and ensure that common standards are being applied to maintain interoperability after it has been established. Moreover, as new technologies like AI revolutionize the health care market, oral health must be part of these conversations.
Attending HIMSS was a great way to represent oral health in an industry dominated by inpatient and outpatient organizations. And it is always rewarding to share our work with others in the industry. Their excitement and feedback when learning about CareQuest Institute and oral health drives our passion for the many opportunities that lie ahead.