At CommonWell Health Alliance, our mission has always been to break down barriers to health data exchange and ensure that health information is available to individuals and caregivers when and where it is needed. In keeping with this commitment, we are excited to share that we have joined the Data Usability – Taking Root Movement, spearheaded by The Sequoia Project as a Supporter to help spread the word and encourage adoption of their implementation guides.
The What:
The Data Usability – Taking Root Movement is an initiative led by The Sequoia Project aimed at enhancing the usability of health data across the healthcare ecosystem. This movement is focused on improving the quality, consistency, and usability of health data to support better clinical decision-making, patient outcomes, and overall interoperability.
The Data Usability workgroup brings subject matter experts together to propose real-world, actionable guidance to take steps to improve the data that is entered and exchanged through HL7 CCDAs and aims to expand beyond CCDAs to HL7 v2 and FHIR.
The Why:
Data usability is a critical component of effective health data exchange. While interoperability ensures that data can be shared across different systems, data usability ensures that the shared data is meaningful, actionable, and can be seamlessly integrated into clinical workflows. By joining this movement, CommonWell is reaffirming its commitment to not only connecting disparate health systems but also enhancing the quality and usability of the data being exchanged. CommonWell has helped to forge the path for foundational and structural interoperability to find increased adoption, but we believe that it’s time to push for an increase in semantic interoperability.
The How:
As part of the Data Usability – Taking Root Movement, CommonWell will work alongside other leading organizations to:
– Develop and Implement Best Practices: Collaborate on creating and promoting best practices for data usability to ensure that health data is consistent, high-quality, and actionable.
– Drive Industry Standards: Contribute to the development and adoption of industry standards that improve data usability across the healthcare continuum.
– Educate and Advocate: Provide education and advocacy to drive awareness and support for data usability initiatives among healthcare providers, policymakers, and other stakeholders.
We urge health IT systems and health care provider organizations to examine their practices and align with the v1.0 implementation guide that was published in December 2022. In addition, we support the progress being made with a newly announced v2.0 implementation guide and a readiness checklist and encourage stakeholders to comment by August 23, 2024.
Looking Ahead
Joining the Data Usability – Taking Root Movement is a significant step forward in our ongoing efforts to improve health data exchange and interoperability. We believe that by focusing on data usability, we can help create a healthcare environment where data is not only accessible but also truly useful for improving patient care. As a Supporter of this movement, we plan to continue to participate and give voice to this important topic.
We are excited about the opportunities this partnership brings and look forward to collaborating with The Sequoia Project and other movement participants to drive meaningful change in the healthcare industry.
Join the Conversation
We invite our members, partners, and the broader healthcare community to join us in this important initiative. Together, we can enhance the usability of health data and make a real difference in the lives of patients and caregivers. Learn more by visiting: https://sequoiaproject.org/data-usability-taking-root-movement/