The ECRI Institute, a Plymouth Meeting, Pa.-based independent nonprofit organization which researches the best approaches to improving patient care, recently conducted a survey with s2a, a health information exchange (HIE) and interoperability consultant, and found that 46 percent of healthcare leaders have yet to assess capacity for an HIE. The findings of the study are found in a new ECRI white paper, “Crossing the Connectivity Chasm: Pinpointing Gaps in Readiness to Exchange Health Information,” to determine whether healthcare leaders are prepared to share data across a healthcare community to improve coordination and quality of care.
“Only 54 percent of the respondents indicated that their organization has formally assessed their health information exchange and interoperability needs,” Thomas E. Skorup, vice president of ECRI Institute’s Applied Solutions Group, said in a statement. “If an organization fails to address the gaps in its ability to exchange healthcare data, not only will it delay efforts to provide patient care and quality at lower costs, it may also prevent that organization from meeting Meaningful Use requirements set forth by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).”
The survey found that healthcare leaders know they need to create an exchange of health information that allows them to demonstrate improved communication and coordination of care between providers. However, many need assistance in achieving interoperability.
