Why Data Interoperability Matters to Global Health

May 18, 2018The global digital health community has been talking about it for more than a decade. So where do things stand?Predictive analytics, rapid diagnostics, and portable, personal medical records promise a future where health systems are stronger and more efficient, and where anyone can live a longer, healthier, fuller life.But one of the prerequisites for this promised transformation is that health systems —whether they’re for diagnostics or patient records or lab results—are interoperable, meaning they can quickly and seamlessly exchange data using open standards.The greater the interoperability of a digital health system, the stronger it is.Interoperability isn ’t just about futuristic health treatments. It is crucial to overcoming the fragmented and proprietary global health systems we have today, and can allow governments and their stakeholders to make the most of their data, including extending, upgrading, and preserving it.  For example, national health systems often include multiple information systems, including those for:Patient recordsHealth managementLaboratory testing and imagingDisease surveillanceHuman resources for healthMedical supplies and logisticsTo fully realize the benefits of these systems, they must be able to exchange data effectively, and decision-makers inside and outside of government must be able to access the data efficiently to inform their decisions.Why Interoperability Matters for Health SystemsCommunities of practice like the ...
Source: IntraHealth International - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Source Type: news