While procurement of interoperable solutions is a necessary prerequisite for establishing an effective digital environment in a hospital, it alone will not automatically deliver the value-added services for the health professionals and the patients, which will entail specific additional activities to establish the needed coherent framework within which interoperable solution will be introduced and operated. Any investment in health ICT and digital technology in the hospital should be viewed as a project that involves much more than acquisition of digital equipment or an ICT system.
Specific guidance on how to set up interoperable digital services may be found in several sources two of which are quoted here. The Refined eHealth European Interoperability Framework (eHEIF) has transposed the European Interoperability Framework ( last revision in 2017) for public authorities and organizations on how to improve governance of their interoperability activities, establish cross-organisational relationships, streamline processes supporting end-to-end digital services and ensure that both existing and new legislation do not compromise interoperability efforts.
As a starting point, every European hospital should appoint an Interoperability Officer who should be able to develop a suitable Interoperability Strategy.
Implementing an interoperability project usually involves several steps and phases. Useful Guidance and links may be found here
Implementing an interoperability project usually involves several steps and phases. Useful Guidance and links may be found here. Read more.
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