Interoperability (198)

Kathryn Ayers Wickenhauser, DirectTrust's chief strategy officer, says the organization began as an ONC initiative but now independently supports a secure EHR-based communication network and accredits health technology.

Dr. David Kaelber, the health system's chief health informatics officer, describes its imaging interoperability journey: breaking down silos and using VNA, universal viewers and patient portals to share imaging with providers and patients.

William Cavanaugh, Concord Technologies CEO, says his company's AI-powered cloud fax tool enables fast, secure clinical data exchange and extracts EHR data from transmitted documents.

Jackie Rice, vice president and chief information officer at Frederick Health, talks about the health system's precision medicine program, which integrates patients' genetic data into clinicians' workflows to support decision-making.

Omar Ayesh, CEO of Electronic Health Solutions, discusses Jordan's national medical record, which was established in 2009 and now enables seamless care and access to patient records across the country for 70% of the population.

Office Practicum's Chris Gibson and Dr. Rich Szabo say participating in HIMSS' Immunization Integration Program demonstrated how the company's EHR enables pediatricians to more effectively manage and integrate vaccine data.

An API that flows Veterans Affairs' data enables doctors to identify more veterans, rectify medication lists and refer them for VA benefits and services, says Matthew McCay, MultiCare Health System's veteran advocacy manager, and Epic's Brett Barker.

Before implementing AI tools, Matt Murren, CEO of True North ITG, says leaders must ensure that data flows freely between their EHR and practice management systems, and that they know how the tool will fit into existing procedures.

PointClickCare's Brian Drozdowicz says that health systems, historically wary of making patient data available to payers, have gradually overcome that hesitation due to the positive impact data sharing has had on patient care and outcomes.

Rebecca Coyle, executive director of the American Immunization Registry Association, talks about immunization registries consolidating vaccine records from multiple providers and recommending additional needed doses.

At the HIMSS25 Public Health Data Modernization Forum, officials say pushing for more data and interoperability is key to keeping up with the rest of the healthcare industry.

While much progress has been made in interoperability in the past 10 years, Dr. Steven Lane, Health Gorilla chief medical officer, and 2025 HIMSS Changemaker Award recipient, says that broader data sharing through TEFCA is still in its early stages.