One Big HIE Hurdle Still Stands

'Many challenges still need to be addressed.'

Interoperability among disparate systems continues to be one of the biggest challenges facing health information exchanges today, according to the findings of a new industry survey. 
 
"Despite the incorporation of new meaningful use policies, it is clear that interoperability issues are still stifling organizations' ability to connect," the Washington-based eHealth Initiative wrote in its 10th annual HIE survey. "The survey results reveal that interoperability remains a great hurdle with little relief in sight."
   
The of 199 health information exchanges around the country also revealed that HIEs do have large opportunities to support health reform, and many already are, but to do that they have to support patient portals and self-service -- an area HIEs and hospitals too are lagging in.