Making progress with data sharing at the Interoperability & HIE Forum
Participants at HIMSS24 next week will have an all-day opportunity to discuss health information exchange issues Interoperability and HIE Forum takes place on Monday, March 11 in Orlando.
Hosted by HIMSS Senior Director of Connected Health Rob Havasy, there are several key takeaways from this year’s forum. Including: Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA), which aims to establish a common agreement for the electronic sharing of health information across different health information networks.
Of particular interest is the expected emergence of Qualified Health Information Networks, or QHINs. The forum will delve into the functionalities of these networks within their frameworks and their methods of exchanging information, with the aim of equipping participants with the knowledge necessary to integrate this new information exchange paradigm into their activities.
Key sessions include discussions on the evolution of interoperability, navigating the QHIN maze, understanding data usability and certification, and exploring the role of AI in healthcare interoperability.
During eight individual forum sessions, participants will gain insights from key leaders and experts to effectively navigate the changing landscape of interoperability.
Mariann Yeager, CEO of The Sequoia Project, TEFCA’s recognized coordinating entity, kicks off the forum with a discussion on where the industry stands on the journey to interoperability.
Yeager will delve into the historical timeline of healthcare interoperability, analyze pivotal moments that shaped the current landscape, and evaluate the role of QHINs in healthcare data exchange, particularly in the context of the 21st Century CURES Act.
Participants can also expect a comprehensive overview of healthcare interoperability by distinguishing between networks and frameworks and exploring historical aspects that have influenced its evolution over time.
Holly Miller, chief medical officer at MedAllies, will do that lead a panel discussion exploring coexistence challenges, technology shifts, and uncertainties associated with new frameworks in healthcare interoperability.
Panelists will analyze proposed strategies to improve health data interoperability in this changing environment and consider the perspectives of clinical providers and other stakeholders.
The role of artificial intelligence in interoperability will be the focus of a four-person panel discussion moderated by Michael Marchant, director of interoperability and innovation at University of California Davis Health.
Using real-world scenarios, the panelists, including Alexander Ding, member of the American Medical Association Board of Trustees, will provide insights into maximizing the benefits of AI for interoperability and HIE, while maintaining ethical standards and patient confidentiality.
The forum will conclude with a talk from Ryan Howells, director of Leavitt Partners, who will give attendees an inside look at future of interoperability in the next decadeabout APIs, apps and (you guessed it) AI.
While the past fifteen years have focused on digitizing healthcare data, the next decade will prioritize making data actionable through APIs, third-party apps, and AI-driven insights. Howells will examine how ONC and CMS policies, along with private sector efforts such as the CARIN Alliance and FHIR accelerators, are advancing digital health.
The focus will be on how TEFCA, CMS and ONC interoperability rules and FHIR accelerators drive interoperability and innovation, and how open standards can be leveraged to initiate consumer-centric data strategies.
HIMSS24 takes place March 11-15 in Orlando. More information and registration.
Nathan Eddy is a healthcare and technology freelancer based in Berlin.
Email the writer: nathaneddy@gmail.com
Twitter: @dropdeaded209