From Interoperability to Digital Transformation

Interoperability, an idiosyncratic term for data sharing, has been a key buzzword for both regulators and digital product vendors in health care. Jon Elwell, CEO at Kno2, says the conversation is finally moving away from interoperability – a measure of simple technological achievement – to digital transformation, which encompasses the technology, process, and cultural change that must happen for meaningful advancement in healthcare. There is finally recognition of the role that data sharing plays in healthcare transformation.  Elwell highlighted this even more in his recent article titled “Healthcare Will Not Survive Without Better Communication.”

I remember going to interoperability showcases at HIMSS conferences and feeling strange that companies needed to demonstrate that their computer could exchange data. After all, Amazon.com does not hold conferences where they boast about how they can display retailers’ products. Through those showcases, I learned how fragile healthcare interoperability was – how data stored in a different field in different products or how the same field can be used differently by organizations both of which can make data sharing difficult. I also learned, much to my dismay, that some organizations resisted data sharing even when it was theoretically possible.

Elwell and Therasa Bell, President and CTO at Kno2, report that providers are coming around to this idea and have been asking Kno2 to leverage their communication and data sharing capabilities to help with these provider organizations’ digital transformation efforts. Pressure from payers and patients plays a role in hurrying this shift in mindset. Providers are also recognizing that sharing data allows them to provide better care and reduces staff frustration.

Interoperability through APIs is Kno2’s business. This includes an expansive definition of interoperability which includes key elements like connectivity and communication. Elwell and Bell explain that interoperability is central to saving health care, beset by worsening staff shortages, hospitals clogged with patients, and declining reimbursements. Elwell says, “You want to see your doctor within days, not weeks. You want a bed to be ready for you when you go into the hospital.”

Elwell and Bell believe that 2023 is a critical year for interoperability.

Watch the video for insights about Kno2, what they consider important in technology, how they want to offer connectivity and communication to small providers as well as big ones through a tech-enabled service they call “CAREplan.”

UPDATE: Elwell discusses Kno2’s application to become a QHIN in this video which was recorded before the initial QHIN announcement which did include Kno2 as one of the first QHINs.

Learn more about Kno2: https://kno2.com/

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About the author

Colin Hung

Colin Hung is the co-founder of the #hcldr (healthcare leadership) tweetchat one of the most popular and active healthcare social media communities on Twitter. Colin speaks, tweets and blogs regularly about healthcare, technology, marketing and leadership. He is currently an independent marketing consultant working with leading healthIT companies. Colin is a member of #TheWalkingGallery. His Twitter handle is: @Colin_Hung.

   

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