Public Health Data Interoperability and National Health Priorities

Module 7 Discussion Paper
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Public Health Data Interoperability
Interoperability is the capability of various information tools and systems to interchange, access, integrate, and collaboratively utilize data effectively in and across healthcare organizations and jurisdictions to offer timely and continuous information portability and promote populations' health outcomes (HIMSS, 2023). The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) created a program requiring doctors to utilize certified electronic health records technology (CEHRT) to input, share, and report detailed clinical information and quality initiatives. The program started in 2011 and advanced over three stages. Stage one created the fundamental necessities for capturing electronic health records (EHRs). Stage two promoted EHRs use for enhanced information sharing and constant quality advancement at the point of care. Modified stage two combined stages one and two have the criteria qualified professionals and hospitals must meet to qualify for Medicare incentive payment (American Medical Association, 2023).
The public health data interoperability and patient portals can assist my family and me become more informed and engaged patients. This is because the patient portal and clinical notes access that the doctors will provide through digital access will enable my family and me to make visits to the physician more prepared and with meaningful questions concerning care (Lyles et al., 2020). In addition, I can directly communicate with my provider concerning my treatments due to the secure messaging framework and advanced features on the patient portals. This would help me virtually develop a patient-provider therapeutic relationship and reduce unnecessary in-person visits.
Public health data interoperability can foster public health during COVID-19 by encouraging prompt patient data access in one place and the correct format for promoting responses and coordinated actions and decisions. Comprehensive and interoperable EHRs permit access and data sharing across the public health framework, enabling better monitoring of suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases. In addition, patient data interoperability promotes telemedicine that fosters personalized care delivery (Sagan et al., 2021).
References
American Medical Association. (2023). Meaningful Use: Electronic Health Record (EHR) incentive programs. Available at -assn.org/practice-management/medicare-medicaid/meaningful-use-electronic-health-record-ehr-incentive
Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society. [HIMSS]. (2023). Interoperability in Healthcare. Available at /resources/interoperability-healthcar...