The vast majority of my physician colleagues understand the value of interoperability for their patients and their ability to deliver high-quality care.
In the rare cases that I encounter a clinician who is unsure of interoperability’s benefits, I simply tell them that it creates a situation where everyone wins: Providers deliver better, safer, less expensive care, and patients get more coordinated experiences.
Interoperability makes a strong, positive difference in the care I deliver to my patients every day. It’s a common scenario for a patient to come in for an office visit after a long ICU stay and say that his medications were all changed—but he’s not sure about the details. Without interoperability, I’d be flying blind. I or my staff would have to spend hours tracking down the patient’s records manually.
However, thanks to data exchange tools, I can usually access those records in seconds, though this ability can vary based on electronic health records (EHR) compatibility and the level of provider adoption.
Interoperability is more than just EHRs
In part, interoperability challenges stem from the fact that many software solutions are still developed in isolation, making it difficult to seamlessly transfer data between systems. Even when data exchange is possible, the process can be manual and slow, resulting in fragmented communication.
True interoperability in health care means that information systems can operate cohesively both within and across organizations: hospital labs instantly share test results with clinicians; hospitals easily transmit data to pharmacy systems; and, patient information flows effortlessly among all care team members—regardless of the operating system, software platform, or devices being used.
While EHR interoperability is essential for enabling the exchange of health care data between providers and various health IT systems, achieving true interoperability in health care extends well beyond technology alone. It requires the alignment of people, processes, communication tools, and IT systems—including EHRs—working in harmony.
For interoperability to be effective, these elements must function cohesively, reliably, and efficiently to support high-quality patient care. When this integration is achieved, it empowers health care teams to make smarter, more informed, patient-centered decisions, ultimately leading to significant improvements in clinical outcomes.
Driving toward the quintuple aim
What began a couple of decades ago in health care as the Triple Aim (improved patient experience, better outcomes, and lower costs) has more recently evolved into the Quintuple Aim, which now includes provider satisfaction and health equity.
Interoperability is unique in that it is one of the few factors in health care with the ability to positively influence each aspect of the Quintuple Aim:
- Better patient experience: By enabling seamless access to medical records, interoperability allows for more personalized, efficient, and timely care, reducing frustration and confusion for patients.
- Improved outcomes: When care teams have access to the full picture of a patient’s health history, they can make more informed decisions, reducing medical errors and enhancing the quality of care.
- Lower costs: Interoperability reduces duplicative testing, minimizes unnecessary procedures, and streamlines administrative processes, all of which contribute to significant cost savings.
- Greater provider satisfaction: Clinicians gain confidence and efficiency from having reliable, real-time information at their fingertips, allowing them to focus on patient care rather than administrative burdens.
- Better health equity: By ensuring that underserved populations have their data follow them regardless of where they seek care, interoperability helps bridge gaps in access and quality across socioeconomic and geographic boundaries.
Embracing interoperability’s full potential
These benefits aren’t theoretical; they’re happening in organizations like mine every day. Whether it’s performing medication reconciliation, confirming imaging results, or catching a critical prescribing error, interoperability allows providers to act quickly and with greater accuracy. One powerful example involved a mis-prescribed drug that was caught by a pharmacist thanks to interoperable systems—potentially preventing serious harm.
Still, technology alone isn’t the solution. Real change depends on educating clinicians on how to use these tools and fostering a mindset that values collaboration. Too often, the data is available but unused because people don’t know it’s there or how to access it.
Interoperability is not just a technical requirement; it’s a foundational element of modern health care that directly supports the goals of the Quintuple Aim. By enhancing patient experience, improving outcomes, lowering costs, supporting provider well-being, and advancing equity, interoperability empowers everyone in the care ecosystem. It’s time we embrace its full potential and commit to making it work for all patients and providers.
Steven Lane is a physician executive.
