Seven Key Questions To Define Your Software Interoperability Goals In Health Care

Interoperability is currently a hot topic in health care. Interoperability issues can impact all types of healthcare organizations, including ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) and ASC management organizations. As ASCs begin to consider interoperability, I’ve found that a couple of common misperceptions about interoperability get in their way.

A misunderstanding is that interoperability is primarily a technical issue. The reality is that interoperability is meant to be a strategic and tactical tool to enhance your market position. The first step should be to understand the why of interoperability. Determining and articulating a clear, strategic context for each interoperability initiative is essential to achieving the organization’s desired outcomes.

A second misunderstanding is that interoperability involves only two parties: that is, the...