Across multiple healthcare systems today, interoperability is the key to unlocking seamless data exchange. It ensures that patient information is readily available at the point of care, enabling healthcare providers to make informed decisions, which leads to accurate diagnoses, effective treatments, and better patient outcomes. However, achieving interoperability remains a significant challenge for HealthTech companies worldwide.
Healthcare interoperability involves effective information sharing between care settings and organisations, as well as between healthcare professionals and citizens to optimise patient outcomes and quality of care. However, in a highly fragmented and complex NHS ecosystem, integrating HealthTech solutions can be challenging. Additionally, different interoperability standards across various vendor systems further complicates the landscape.
HealthTech companies across the UK are faced with more challenges than most when it comes to interoperability, as they have to integrate with the NHS's diverse and centralised services. Without addressing these hurdles, achieving true interoperability is challenging. That’s why it is crucial to consider interoperability from the outset of any HealthTech deployment rather than as an afterthought.
Early integration: A core design principle
The solution to the interoperability challenge lies in considering interoperability as a core design principle. By leveraging emerging healthcare standards like FHIR®, protocols, and the expertise of experienced partners, HealthTech companies can significantly ease the integration process. InterSystems, a leader in this field, provides invaluable insights and support for HealthTech start-ups.
In particular, we advocate for embedding flexible interoperability into the design phase of HealthTech solutions. This proactive approach ensures seamless integration with NHS systems from the beginning, reducing the need for costly and time-consuming modifications later. HealthTech start-ups should focus on understanding the privacy, security, and information governance around patient data to ensure compliance and smooth integration. Familiarising yourself with NHS standards and protocols such as HL7v2 and FHIR is essential. Ensuring that your solutions are compliant with these standards will facilitate easier integration and interoperability.
Designing your solutions with the end-users in mind (both patients and healthcare providers) is equally crucial. Solutions that improve patient care, or streamline healthcare provider workflows, within the NHS are more likely to be adopted. Working with experienced interoperability platform vendors like InterSystems, that offer unified platforms for data management and interoperability, can help you navigate the complexities of the NHS's digital infrastructure.
Addressing interoperability pain points
To develop effective HealthTech solutions, it is vital to understand the specific pain points associated with interoperability. Different EPR systems may use a range of different standards and versions, leading to compatibility issues. Addressing this requires a deep understanding of these standards and ensuring that your solutions are versatile enough to integrate across different systems. Many operational systems lack the necessary integration points for new solutions to be included effectively in care pathways, resulting in suboptimal workflows.
HealthTech companies often face resource constraints, with many workers proficient in digital solutions but lacking expertise in healthcare workflows and interoperability standards. Partnering with experts who understand these intricacies can bridge this gap. Interoperating with centralised NHS services like the personal demographics service for real-time access to NHS numbers at the point of care, or summary care records to access current critical information in unscheduled care settings requires significant effort and investment. Ensuring your solutions can access and integrate with these services is crucial for success.
The InterSystems IRIS for Health solution is designed to support interoperability and is already used by various HealthTechs, including HBS, Ummanu Health, and NHS eConsult. By understanding the nuances of NHS systems and designing solutions with interoperability at their core, HealthTech start-ups can significantly enhance their potential for success. InterSystems provides a pathway for these organisations to overcome interoperability challenges, transforming raw patient data into actionable insights. This not only enhances healthcare delivery but also leads to improved healthcare services for all.
For a more detailed guide on achieving interoperability within the NHS, check out our comprehensive two-pager here. This resource provides further insights and practical steps to help HealthTech start-ups navigate the complex landscape of NHS interoperability.
By prioritising interoperability from the beginning, HealthTech companies can develop solutions that truly integrate into the NHS, ultimately improving patient care and outcomes.
