52% of healthcare workers think that improving patient care and coordination is the most important goal they are working on now. 68% of healthcare professionals agree that technical limitations make it extremely difficult to obtain information for decision-making.
As highlighted in the report, achieving interoperability across industries poses a complex challenge. Diverse technologies, data security considerations, and stringent regulations safeguarding sensitive information create hurdles in seamlessly integrating data to enhance outcomes. However, the landscape of data-sharing perspectives across various sectors is transforming, largely influenced by recent global events, such as the pandemic.
In this blog post, we will explore six tools available to address interoperability challenges across industries.
Understanding interoperability and its challenges
Interoperability is a term that originated in the field of information technology (IT) and refers to the ability of different systems, devices, or applications to connect, communicate, and work together seamlessly. In a broader sense, interoperability can be applied to various sectors, including healthcare, finance, education, and more, signifying the capacity for different systems to exchange and use shared data effectively.
Interoperability is crucial as it allows for the integration of diverse systems and technologies, enabling them to operate as a unified whole. This seamless communication and collaboration can lead to improved efficiency, enhanced innovation, better decision-making, and an overall increase in value for users and organizations.
Challenges
- Technological diversity: With a wide range of technologies, platforms, and standards in use today, ensuring that they all ‘speak the same language’ can be difficult. Different systems may use different data formats, protocols, and interfaces, making it challenging for them to communicate and share data seamlessly.
- Data privacy and security: As systems become more connected, there are more chances for data theft and other security problems. It can be a challenge to ensure that data is securely exchanged while maintaining privacy.
- Lack of standardization: Standardization is key for interoperability. However, the lack of universally accepted standards across industries can hinder interoperability. Even when standards exist, they may be implemented differently by different organizations, leading to inconsistencies.
- Organizational silos: Organizational silos, where each department or unit operates independently of the others, can also impede interoperability. Without a collaborative approach and shared goals, achieving interoperability can be difficult.
- Cost and complexity: Implementing interoperable systems can be costly and complex. It often involves significant changes to existing systems, infrastructure, and processes, requiring a substantial investment of time, money, and resources.
Solutions to interoperability
Here are some of the solutions to the interoperability challenge that can be applied across industries:
Application Programming Interfaces (APIs)
APIs play a pivotal role in interoperability by establishing a standardized framework for communication among diverse software applications. APIs enable seamless integration between electronic health record (EHR) systems, diagnostic tools, and patient portals. This ensures efficient data exchange, promoting a unified approach to patient care and facilitating real-time access to critical information.
Middleware
Middleware serves as a bridge between different systems, enabling communication and data exchange. It can include message brokers, object request brokers, database access services, and more. By translating requests from application to application, middleware allows disparate systems to communicate and share data, enhancing interoperability. In various industries, it streamlines communication between various software applications and services, optimizing business processes. For example, in healthcare, middleware facilitates the integration of disparate health information systems, such as laboratory information systems and radiology information systems, ensuring a cohesive flow of patient data.
Data standards
Establishing and adhering to industry-specific data standards is another way to ensure interoperability. Standardized data formats such as XML, JSON, RDF, etc. ensure consistency in information exchange between systems, enhancing overall system compatibility. Adopting standardized data formats, such as Health Level Seven (HL7) for clinical data exchange, fosters interoperability between diverse healthcare platforms.
Enterprise Service Bus (ESB)
Acting as a central hub, the ESB integrates and coordinates communication between various applications and services within an organization. This bus-like infrastructure facilitates interoperability by allowing different systems to talk to each other via the ESB. It can streamline business processes and support the integration of diverse applications.
Data transformation tools
Data transformation tools like ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) facilitate data transformation, making it possible for different systems to understand and process information in a compatible format. ETL tools are crucial for interoperability as they enable organizations to move data from one system to another, convert it into a suitable format, and load it into the destination system. They are instrumental in both sectors for converting and harmonizing data formats. Data transformation tools can streamline data integration and support analysis by transforming data into a standardized format. For example, health data can be easily transformed between various health data standards, facilitating interoperability between diverse healthcare platforms.
Blockchain technology
Blockchain technology can provide a decentralized and secure way for different parties to share and verify data, thereby improving trust and interoperability. With its inherent transparency and immutability, blockchain serves as a reliable tool for data exchange across disparate systems. It is particularly useful in industries such as finance, supply chain, and healthcare where secure and reliable data sharing is paramount. Blockchain, for instance, can safeguard data exchanges and streamline supply chain procedures in IT. In healthcare, it safeguards the confidentiality of patient data, facilitates the secure transfer of medical information, and encourages interoperability between diverse healthcare providers.
Finding the right solution to the interoperability problem
In conclusion, achieving interoperability across industries requires a combination of the right tools, standards, and practices. By leveraging APIs, middleware, data standards, ESBs, data transformation tools, and blockchain technology, organizations can overcome interoperability challenges and reap the benefits of seamless data exchange and integration. Interoperability is not just a technical issue; it is a business imperative that can drive innovation, enhance customer experience, and lead to operational efficiency.
