Why Data Interoperability Should Be An Infrastructure Priority
Why Data Interoperability Should Be An Infrastructure Priority - Forbes
Summary
The U.S. healthcare system is failing due to data fragmentation. Experts argue that this ability to share data must be treated as a critical next-generation infrastructure.
Details
In the U.S., crucial patient information (lab results, scans, prescriptions) remains locked within separate, non-communicating computer systems. This fragmentation causes increased burden on medical staff during emergencies, financial losses from repeated tests, and delays in proper care. The lack of data connectivity costs billions annually, particularly affecting small, rural facilities. Reports indicate that many facilities struggle to utilize received data effectively. While policy initiatives like the 21st Century Cures Act are advancing, many healthcare organizations still rely on outdated infrastructure or incompatible formats. To solve this, 'interoperability' itself must be viewed as a national infrastructure—like a power grid. This requires leveraging modern standards such as FHIR R4 and DICOMweb with cloud-ready architectures to enable secure data exchange at scale. By treating health data as critical infrastructure, the focus shifts from temporary IT fixes to long-term modernization, aiming to reduce administrative waste and improve crisis response capabilities.
Technology Note
FHIR（Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources）は医療データ交換の国際標準。このエントリの関連技術: FHIR
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