When patient information doesn't move smoothly between healthcare providers, it increases the risk of medical errors. Introducing specific information blocking strategies, improving vendor relations, and combining federal and state efforts can reduce risks and ensure optimal patient care.
Information blocking strategies
Encourage transparency and collaboration
Promote a culture where data sharing and secure, HIPAA compliant email systems are encouraged, and transparency is the norm. This can help alleviate fears or competitive instincts that may lead to information blocking. Organizational leadership should champion the benefits of interoperability and health information exchange (HIE), highlighting success stories and integrating these values into the mission statement and staff training.
Educate staff and clinicians
Provide regular training and educational resources to all staff on the necessity of HIE and the negative impact of information blocking. Training should include real-world scenarios of information blocking, its legal and ethical implications, and how to facilitate data exchange in cases of potential information blocking.
Upgrade or modify health IT systems
Invest in health IT systems and modify existing systems to facilitate seamless information exchange. Work with IT vendors to ensure EHRs and other health IT systems meet interoperability standards like those set by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC).
Participate in HIE organizations
Actively participate in regional and national HIE initiatives and organizations that promote interoperability. Membership in these entities often provides access to shared technology infrastructure. It establishes data exchange norms, making integrating with a network of healthcare providers easier.
Monitor compliance and enforce penalties
Regularly monitor compliance with information sharing policies and enforce penalties for instances of information blocking. Set up an internal audit and reporting system where information blocking can be reported and addressed.
See also: What is information blocking?
Improved transparency between vendors and healthcare providers
Transparency between healthcare providers and vendors can reduce information blocking. Exposing restrictive practices and enforcing compliance through regulatory bodies can help, including:
- Mandate the disclosure of complete pricing structures, including all potential costs associated with EHR implementation, data exchange, and system upgrades.
- Require software vendors to specify any limitations of their systems' interoperability capabilities upfront during the sales process.
- Establish clear standards and requirements for data exchange and interoperability that vendors must adhere to and communicate.
State and federal legislation
State and federal laws establish legal parameters that define acceptable practices for exchanging electronic health information (EHI). At the federal level, laws like the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act and regulations set forth by the ONC set standards for health IT systems and practices. They also provide mechanisms for enforcement, such as penalties for non-compliance and incentives for adhering to interoperability requirements. Federal laws further ensure that providers are well-informed when choosing health IT products and promote the secure, uninhibited flow of health information as the 21st Century Cures Act intended.
State-level laws can complement federal regulations by tailoring requirements to specific local challenges and opportunities. States can create regulations to prevent information blocking, such as declaring it an unfair trade practice, as seen in Connecticut. State laws can also reinforce the national legal framework by integrating with state HIEs and promoting interoperability standards that align with federal guidelines. State legislatures can fund initiatives to support adopting interoperable systems and establish local accountability measures beyond federal requirements.
See also: What is the Cures Act of 2021?
Kirsten Peremore
