The Path to Interoperability in Healthcare

Imagine trying to treat a patient without a complete picture of their medical history—no access to past test results, medication lists or allergy alerts. It’s not just frustrating—it’s risky. And yet, this is still the reality in many healthcare settings where systems don’t “talk” to each other. That’s where interoperability in healthcare comes into play.

Interoperability ensures healthcare systems, platforms and devices can exchange information—and use that information to improve patient care. It’s the difference between disconnected islands of data and a fully integrated map that guides better decisions, faster treatments and smoother workflows.

But getting there? It’s a journey that requires more than just the right software. It demands shared standards, vendor cooperation, smart strategy and a little patience.

Table of Contents

• What Is Interoperability in Healthcare?
• Why Is Interoperability Important?
• Challenges to Achieving Interoperability
• Standards
• Best Practices and Strategies
• Interoperability Platforms
• Regulations and Incentive
• How Pointcore Helps
• FAQs

What Is Interoperability in Healthcare?

Interoperability in healthcare is the ability of different IT systems and software applications–such as electronic health records (EHRs), lab systems, pharmacy platforms and wearable devices–to seamlessly exchange, interpret and use data. It goes beyond sharing information; it’s about making sure the receiving system understands and integrates it in a useful way.

There are four levels of interoperability, and each plays a role in creating a truly connected ecosystem:

• Foundational: The basic ability of one system to send data to another.
• Structural: Ensures data is organized and formatted properly for consistent sharing.
• Semantic: Enables systems to interpret the meaning of the data (think standardized medical terminology).
• Organizational: Aligns policies, workflows and legal considerations so everything flows smoothly behind the scenes.

When all of these levels work together, clinicians can access the right information at the right time–which makes all the difference between guesswork and great care.

Why Is Interoperability Important in Healthcare?

If you’ve ever had to repeat your entire medical history at every new doctor’s office, you’ve felt the pain of poor interoperability firsthand. Now imagine that same frustration—but from the perspective of a doctor trying to make a critical decision with only part of the story. Not ideal.

When systems communicate effectively, here’s what happens:

• Better care coordination: Clinicians across specialties and facilities can see a unified patient record, which reduces duplicate tests and avoids conflicting treatments.
• Fewer medical errors: Access to accurate, real-time information helps prevent mistakes like prescribing medications that might interact poorly.
• More efficient workflows: Staff spend less time chasing paperwork and more time focusing on patients.
• Empowered patients: When systems share data, patients can, too—giving them more control over their health journey.
• Support for value-based care: Interoperability helps track outcomes, manage population health and measure performance, which are all key for value-based care models.

Challenges To Achieving Interoperability

Healthcare organizations face a mix of technical, financial and organizational hurdles that make seamless data exchange easier said than done.

Here are some of the biggest blockers:

• Siloed systems: Many healthcare providers still use legacy systems that weren’t designed to integrate with others. Trying to connect them can feel like plugging a USB into a toaster.
• Lack of standardization: Without common standards for data formats and terminology, one system’s “high blood pressure” might be another’s “HBP,” and that creates confusion.
• Vendor lock-in: Some tech vendors limit access to their platforms to keep customers in their ecosystem. It’s not great for collaboration—or for patients.
• Implementation costs: Upgrading to interoperable systems, training staff and maintaining integrations require time and money, which smaller organizations often lack.
• Privacy and security concerns: Sharing sensitive patient data across systems raises important questions about HIPAA compliance, cybersecurity and trust.

Standards Guiding the Path to Interoperability

You can’t build a bridge without a blueprint—and in healthcare, interoperability standards are the blueprint. These frameworks ensure that when one system sends data, another system knows exactly what to do with it. Without them, we’re stuck with digital babel.

Two of the most important players in this space are HL7 and FHIR.

HL7 (Health Level Seven)

HL7 has been around since the late 1980s and is a foundational standard for exchanging health information electronically. It provides a structure for data formatting so systems can communicate more consistently. While it’s not perfect, it’s been a key stepping stone in the industry.

FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources)

FHIR is like the next-gen version of HL7. Developed by the same organization, it uses modern web technologies (like RESTful APIs and JSON/XML) to make data exchange more flexible, accessible and developer-friendly. Think of it as the Spotify of data sharing—plug in, pull what you need and move on.

FHIR makes it easier for apps, devices and platforms to work together, which is essential in an ecosystem that now includes everything from EHRs to mobile health apps to remote monitoring tools.

Best Practices and Strategies for Achieving Interoperability

Interoperability doesn’t happen by accident—it takes intention, coordination and the right mix of tools and processes. Whether you’re just starting out or fine-tuning existing systems, these best practices provide a guide on how to improve interoperability in healthcare.

1. Invest in Interoperable Systems

When choosing an EHR or other health IT platform, prioritize vendors that support open standards like FHIR and offer API integration capabilities. Ask questions. Push for transparency. If your system can’t play nice with others, it’s time to reconsider.

2. Standardize Your Data

A big part of interoperability is semantic consistency—everyone using the same language when documenting and sharing information. Adopting standardized coding systems like SNOMED CT, LOINC and ICD-10 ensures your data can be correctly interpreted no matter where it’s viewed.

3. Prioritize Vendor Collaboration

Work with vendors who are willing to collaborate—not just sell. Choose partners who understand your long-term interoperability goals and offer solutions that can evolve with your needs.

4. Establish Governance and Policies

Who owns the data? How should it be shared? What’s the protocol for updating systems? Setting clear governance policies helps avoid confusion and ensures everyone is on the same page—from IT teams to frontline staff.

5. Provide Ongoing Training

Even the best tools are useless if no one knows how to use them. Make interoperability part of your organizational culture by regularly training staff on workflows, standards and tools that support data sharing.

6. Keep Patients in Mind

At the end of the day, interoperability is about people. Build processes that make data more accessible to both clinicians and patients, so that care becomes more connected, informed and patient-centered.

• Transparent API documentation
• Compliance with standards like FHIR, HL7 and HIPAA
• A track record of successful third-party integrations
• Willingness to collaborate with your internal teams and external partners

Interoperability Platforms: The Middlemen That Make It Work

Think of interoperability platforms as digital interpreters. These solutions sit between systems, translating, mapping and delivering data in formats both the sender and receiver can understand. They’re essential for:

• Connecting disparate EHRs and clinical systems
• Enabling health information exchanges (HIEs)
• Facilitating patient access to records
• Supporting data normalization and real-time alerts

Some platforms also offer analytics and visualization tools, helping healthcare organizations turn raw data into actionable insights.

Regulations and Incentives Supporting Healthcare Interoperability

Interoperability is increasingly a must-have, thanks to growing pressure from regulators, industry groups and federal programs. These efforts are pushing healthcare toward more connected, patient-centered care.

The 21st Century Cures Act

This landmark legislation, passed in 2016, laid the groundwork for interoperability. It requires healthcare organizations and IT vendors to make health data more accessible to patients—and prohibits information blocking practices that restrict data sharing. It also led to the Information Blocking Rule, which enforces penalties for non-compliance.

TEFCA: The Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement

Led by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC), TEFCA s a federally supported framework that aims to create a universal floor for health information exchange. It simplifies and standardizes how organizations connect and share data across networks.

CMS Interoperability and Patient Access Rule

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) introduced this rule to ensure patients have access to their health data—particularly through third-party apps that use APIs. The idea? Make healthcare data easy to access.

HIPAA, HITECH and Beyond

Of course, no conversation about health data would be complete without mentioning HIPAA. While it focuses more on privacy and security than interoperability per se, it sets the boundaries for how data can be shared safely. The HITECH Act, meanwhile, helped fund the adoption of EHRs and pushed providers to meet specific interoperability benchmarks.

Incentives That Move the Needle

From Medicare reimbursements tied to Meaningful Use (now part of the Promoting Interoperability program) to grant funding for health IT innovation, government-backed incentives are helping organizations invest in systems that make data sharing not just possible—but practical.

How Pointcore Helps Support Healthcare Interoperability

At Pointcore, we understand that interoperability is a clinical imperative. That’s why our services are built to help healthcare organizations simplify complexity, connect systems and ultimately provide better care.

Through our Healthcare Technology Management and Technology Services, we support hospitals and health systems in building strong, flexible IT infrastructures that scale with evolving interoperability standards. Whether evaluating vendors, optimizing EHR platforms or improving data workflows, Pointcore helps you focus less on IT headaches and more on patient care.

FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions About Interoperability in Healthcare

Still have questions about what interoperability means for your organization? You’re not alone. Here are some of the most common questions we hear—and what you need to know to navigate the path forward.

What challenges do healthcare organizations face in achieving interoperability?

Legacy systems and siloed data make it tough to share information across departments or with outside providers. There’s also the issue of inconsistent data standards—different platforms may speak different languages. Add in vendor lock-in, the high cost of upgrading systems and concerns about data privacy and compliance, and you’ve got a complex environment to navigate.

What role do vendors and interoperability platforms play in healthcare integration?

Vendors and interoperability platforms are essential to making system-wide integration a reality. Vendors provide the software tools (like EHRs, lab systems and care coordination apps), while interoperability platforms serve as the bridge between them—helping systems exchange and interpret data in real time.

Are there government regulations or incentives supporting healthcare interoperability?

Yes, several major federal initiatives are driving healthcare interoperability forward. The 21st Century Cures Act and its Information Blocking Rule require organizations to make patient data more accessible and discourage practices that hinder information sharing. TEFCA and the CMS Interoperability and Patient Access Rule are working to establish national standards for data exchange and improve patient access. Programs like Meaningful Use/Promoting Interoperability also offer financial incentives to providers that adopt and effectively use certified EHR technology.