The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology recently released a vision document to achieve Interoperability in Health IT. Spread over 3, 6 and 10 years, the vision document highlights the pressing need to achieve interoperability among different Health IT systems.

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June 17, 2014
“An Interoperable Health IT ecosystem makes
the right data available to the right people at
the right time”
June 17, 2014
A 10-Year Vision to Achieve Interoperability
The Office of the National Coordinator for
Health Information Technology recently released
a vision document to achieve Interoperability in
Health IT. Spread over 3, 6 and 10 years, the vision
document highlights the pressing need to achieve
interoperability among different Health IT systems.
The complete report can be accessed from here.
The document speaks about the need for
broad adoption of Health IT that will facilitate the
sharing of Health information that is easy and
secure. With an eye on all stakeholders, ONC has
given a call asking clinicians, hospitals, public
health, technology developers, payers, researchers,
policymakers, individuals, and many others – to join
ONC in figuring out how to collectively achieve
interoperability across the health IT ecosystem.
Mission-2024
The goal to achieve complete interoperability
has been set for the year 2024. By aiming to make a
flexible system that satisfies the need of consumers,
the system has earmarked space for innovation as
well. Translated to realistic terms – this should
result in lower healthcare costs, better quality of
care, better management of population health with
increased consumer engagement and awareness.
“Individuals should be able to securely share
electronic health information with care providers
and make use of the information to support their
own health and wellness through informed shared
decision-making”, says the vision document. This is
quite interesting because most of the talk on
interoperability has been on the IT systems and very
less attention has been paid to the individual. To
what extent EHR companies commit changes to
make patients feel comfortable is still unclear given
the larger challenges EHR companies face in today’s
competitive market.
Guiding Principles
A set of guiding principles have been
formulated for the future interoperable health IT
ecosystem:
 Build upon the existing health IT
infrastructure
 One size does not fit all
 Empower individuals
 Leverage the market
 Simplify
 Maintain modularity
 Consider the current environment and
support multiple levels of advancement
 Focus on value
 Protect privacy and security in all
aspects of interoperability
Timeline Breakdown
A timeline has been drawn up breaking down the
path to interoperability. The milestones have been
placed at 3, 6 and 10 years. A quick look at what
this means:
ONC Releases 10-Year Vision
to Achieve Interoperability in
Health IT

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Five Critical Building Blocks
Five critical building blocks for a nationwide
interoperable health information infrastructure have
been listed as the focus areas to achieve
interoperability:
1. Core technical standards and functions
2. Certification to support adoption and optimization
of health IT products and services
3. Privacy and security protections for health
information
4. Supportive business, clinical, cultural, and
regulatory environments
5. Rules of engagement and governance
The Road Ahead
The 10-year vision document to achieve
interoperability in Health IT systems is a step in the
right direction. Sustainable interoperability that
fosters better sharing of information cannot be
achieved overnight. All the stakeholders have to be
taken along.
The objective is to ensure the free flow of
information and this requires cohesive and seamless
coordination not only among payer, provider and
patient but also among policy makers, Health IT
companies and academicians.
2017 2020 2024
SEND,
RECEIVE,
FIND, AND
USE HEALTH
INFORMATIO
N TO
IMPROVE
HEALTH CARE
QUALITY
USE
INFORMATIO
N TO
IMPROVE
HEALTH CARE
QUALITY AND
LOWER COST
THE
LEARNING
HEALTH
SYSTEM

3. 4010, Moorpark Avenue, #205, San Jose, California 95117
Here is a quick checklist on the effectiveness of your
current Interoperability solution:
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