Does your #EMR / #EHR provide a comprehensive view of the #patient record? http://t.co/FgH0d29A9Z #EMC #healthIT #healthcare
— EMC Documentum (@EMCdocumentum) August 8, 2014
You don’t really need to click on the link above. The answer is no. The answer is that it probably won’t ever happen. There are just too many source systems where our health data is stored and it’s getting more complicated, not less.
Hey!!!! Jumping in now!!! Been a long day troubleshooting multi-EMR integration. #HCLDR
— Mandi Bishop (@MandiBPro) August 6, 2014
If the social media maven Mandi has a challenge getting her social media on, now you can understand why many others “don’t have the time.” It takes a commitment and many don’t want to make that commitment. It doesn’t make them bad people. We all only have so many hours in a day.
May 05 : PCORI Looks to Link Millions of EMR by September 2015 – http://t.co/NHE8zOlrso
— Chelli Miller (@cmiller1225) August 4, 2014
No need to read this link either. Although, I found it great that they described the challenge as linking millions of EMR. Let’s be generous and say there are 700 EHR vendors. Unfortunately, that doesn’t describe what it takes to make EMR interoperable. To use a cliche phrase, if you’ve connected with one Epic installation, you’ve connected with one Epic installation. I know it’s getting better, but it’s not there. If you want interoperable EMR data, you need to connect a lot of different installs.
Even though an EHR will never have the complete patient record, we can continually improve the views and information that providers do have to help them solve patient cases, research new treatments, and provide the best healthcare possible. We’ve come a long way, and have a long way yet to go.
Greg,
Yes, you’re right. We have made progress and will make more progress. Thanks for the reminder.