< + > Innovating EHR Systems to Improve Interoperability and Seamless Data Sharing Between Different Healthcare Providers

We have made a lot of strides in healthcare — looking for ways to recenter the patient in our decisions, inventing technologies like AI to reduce the clinician burden on our staff, and so much more. However, all of these improvements mean nothing if they are contained solely to your organization. In order to truly improve healthcare, we need to have seamless interoperability and data sharing between different healthcare providers. No matter how loyal your patients are, it is impossible to visit the same provider every time. People move and you may not be available in their new location, a health problem can arise that your organization doesn’t cover so they need to seek a secondary provider, people get injured while traveling and need to go to whatever provider is in that area, etc. Getting your necessary medical data across providers in these scenarios can be time-consuming and mentally taxing for both patients and providers. Improving interoperability and seamless data sharing is vital as we work towards a better future and there are plenty of different methods to do this.

Today we are going to focus on the role of EHR systems in this goal of improving interoperability and seamless data sharing between different healthcare providers. We reached out to our insightful Healthcare IT Today Community to ask — how can EHR systems be innovated to improve interoperability and seamless data sharing between different healthcare providers? The following are their answers.

Andrew Hines, Chief Technology Officer at Canvas Medical
Our regulator, the ASTP/ONC, needs to keep going. Interoperability is a public good and the industry has made progress over the last 15 years only because of the federal certification program and related standards, specifically the combination of USCDI content transported in FHIR format. ASTP needs to keep going and specifically require EMRs to allow authorized 3rd parties to add or update information in their systems, not just read data out.

Vijay Adapala, EVP Global Supply Partnerships at Doceree
Utilizing FHIR and HL7 standards for uniform data exchange allows EHR systems to facilitate smooth data sharing. The implementation of open APIs can support platforms that consolidate data from various providers or vendors, thereby promoting the development of a broadly accepted, fully integrated digital healthcare ecosystem. Establishing national networks that connect providers on a national scale will further simplify the data-sharing process. Additionally, employing cloud platforms to deliver real-time data to providers for prompt patient care can yield significant advantages.

Stephanie Murray, Senior Director, Epic Services at CereCore
EHR vendors continue to balance innovation with foundational functionality. However, considering recent advances in technology, especially in AI and cybersecurity, EHRs are consistently expected to do more and innovate across the gaps. One interoperability improvement needed is the ability to make chart corrections once data has been shared with another entity. While some EHRs provide a degree of automation when handling chart corrections, most healthcare organizations likely rely on a manual process for external data sharing. Once inaccurate data is transmitted from an organization, who is responsible for correcting it among all the shared entities? How do we ensure inaccurate data is traced and corrected? An innovative opportunity to advance automation in this space exists. However, it is not for the faint of heart. The last thing we want is to compound inaccuracies and jeopardize data integrity with automated corrections.

Vijay Verma, VP of Product at TeleVox
EHR systems should provide access to read and update patient records to 3rd party vendors selected by the hospital systems. This allows for the healthcare domain to innovate faster and responsibly. For example, EHRs can be integrated with patient relationship management platforms, delivering patient-centered care that leads to stronger patient relationships. Patient relationship management complements the EHR and is focused on the importance of the patient experience. It goes beyond mere record-keeping and one-way patient messaging, instead focusing on building relationships and fostering engagement between patients and healthcare providers.

Dr. William Morris, Chief Medical Officer at Ambience Healthcare
It is essential that EHRs have the ability to read and write back data. While viewing outside data is important, having it funneled back into clinical workflows is essential. We need systems that support not just “view” but also “do.”

Craig Joseph, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Nordic Global Consulting
To genuinely improve interoperability and data sharing across electronic health record (EHR) systems, we need a concerted shift from isolated vendor-based frameworks to a shared, standards-driven ecosystem. Central to this transformation is adopting standards such as open APIs and Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) across all EHR vendors, not as a peripheral feature but as an integral system design component. By mandating such standards, systems can transition away from today’s piecemeal exchange solutions, allowing for more uniform, real-time data exchange.

Additionally, implementing a national patient identification standard could resolve one of the most persistent barriers to interoperability: the accurate, cross-platform matching of patient records. This would streamline data access across disparate health systems, preventing duplicative tests, minimizing errors, and improving clinical decision-making. Achieving meaningful interoperability hinges on three core pillars: technical expertise, enforceable regulatory support, and a genuine commitment from healthcare systems to share actionable data for clinical advancement. Without all three, the foundation for effective data exchange crumbles.

David Metcalfe, Chief Technology Officer at Nextech
As healthcare technology experts, we must make sure we provide the interfaces and tools necessary to enable data sharing across systems. It’s imperative to go beyond talking about interoperability and start showing interoperability at work in the software. As stewards of patient data, it’s up to us to identify barriers to efficient data exchange and work to overcome them within our systems.

Andy Flanagan, CEO at Iris Telehealth
In 2023, 81% of hospitals faced minor barriers to data exchange, and 62% encountered major obstacles primarily due to vendor differences. Interoperability remains a critical challenge in the healthcare industry, so ensuring the long-term success of an EHR system hinges on seamless, technology-neutral integration. By emphasizing user-friendly interfaces and streamlined workflows, organizations can dismantle the data silos that hinder effective healthcare delivery. The ultimate goal is to create connected care environments where providers can focus on patient care rather than managing multiple systems.

Shelley Wehmeyer, Senior Director of Product and Partner Marketing at Rhapsody
To fully realize the potential of EHRs, healthcare teams must prioritize enterprise-level, system-agnostic integration solutions that support seamless data exchange across platforms. EHR upgrades often center on enhancing clinical workflows and outcomes within the EHR’s ecosystem. However, without a comprehensive data-sharing strategy, the benefits of these improvements are limited. A robust integration platform minimizes the complexities and costs of connecting diverse systems, protects patient data, and bridges legacy and modern data requirements. This approach reduces migration risks, enhances data resilience and usability, and ensures clinicians have timely access to critical information—ultimately leading to improved patient care, operational efficiency, and a more connected healthcare ecosystem.

Liz Lewis, Director of Product at Commonwell Health Alliance
Data exchange and availability have become ubiquitous, at least for large-scale health systems and any providers using the largest and most well-known EHRs. Regardless of what EHR or health care setting a provider has, that system’s capabilities are truly integral to the provider’s ability to actually use the data that is received in a meaningful way. And, while the federal government has doubled down on interoperability integrations and standards, opening up the pipes is only one part of the equation. Making the received data usable inside of the EHR system is vital, and when sending data, EHR systems should prioritize sharing high-quality data to ensure its usability, as supported through the Data Usability Taking Root Movement. Data usability must be at the forefront of all EHR vendors’ roadmaps moving forward.

Maxim Abramsky, AVP Product Management at Edifecs
The following are innovations, which lead to better interop and traceable data sharing:

• Adopting Standardized Data Formats and APIs: Utilizing HL7 FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) ensures consistent data exchange across platforms; open, standardized APIs can further enable developers to build solutions that enhance compatibility
• Leveraging Blockchain Technology: While a bit forgotten, blockchain offers secure, decentralized data-sharing mechanisms, ensuring data integrity while reducing reliance on centralized repositories; there are no current analogs of this technology, though it is mainly used only in the financial industry
• Enhanced Identity Management Systems: Employing universal patient identifiers and advanced identity verification technologies, like biometric authentication, minimizes mismatches and ensures accurate data sharing; also universal patient ID (similar to NPI) is a necessity to eliminate identity management issues and costly mistakes
• AI-Driven Data Mapping and Reconciliation: AI tools can automatically map and reconcile inconsistent data formats or terminologies, reducing human effort and improving data usability
• Government and Industry Collaboration: Policies that mandate interoperability standards and incentivize adherence can push EHR vendors and providers toward seamless integration

Leslie Breer, Unit Lead, Clinical Care at TruBridge
EHR innovation and interoperability both take teamwork and collaboration across the healthcare ecosystem. Widespread adoption of Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) standards and an API-first approach are seen as the most probable pathway for EHRs to communicate more effectively. As a legacy EHR vendor, we are witnessing a new generation of standards adoption across EHR vendors, regardless of the platform, to implement shared standards and achieve long-term interoperability visions.

So many great insights here! Huge thank you to Andrew Hines, Chief Technology Officer at Canvas Medical, Vijay Adapala, EVP Global Supply Partnerships at Doceree, Stephanie Murray, Senior Director, Epic Services at CereCore, Vijay Verma, VP of Product at TeleVox, Dr. William Morris, Chief Medical Officer at Ambience Healthcare, Craig Joseph, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Nordic Global Consulting, David Metcalfe, Chief Technology Officer at Nextech, Andy Flanagan, CEO at Iris Telehealth, Shelley Wehmeyer, Senior Director of Product and Partner Marketing at Rhapsody, Liz Lewis, Director of Product at Commonwell Health Alliance, Maxim Abramsky, AVP Product Management at Edifecs, and Leslie Breer, Unit Lead, Clinical Care at TruBridge for taking the time out of your day to submit a quote to us! And thank you to all of you for taking the time out of your day to read this article! We could not do this without all of your support.

How do you think EHR systems can be innovated to improve interoperability and seamless data sharing between different healthcare providers? Let us know either in the comments down below or over on social media. We’d love to hear from all of you!