Problem Analysis

Interoperability in healthcare refers to the ability of various systems and applications to exchange data through communication and use such information to enhance healthcare delivery to individuals. The various layers of interoperability are seen the moment the 22-year old patient visit the health care facility in search of health care services.  The human layer interoperability sets in motion some other layers including process interoperability and clinical interoperability.   The achievement of process interoperability occurs once human beings come to a common understanding in the entire network, the coordination of interoperation of business systems and work processes (Benson, & Grieve 2016).  The human layer interoperability in this case occurs when the tasks are performed such as physical examination and diagnosing asthma in the patient.  These tasks are, therefore, coordinated in a way that the processes can take advantage of various systems in the organization and provide the required health care services.

  Clinical interoperability in the above case is seen in the coordination of the clinicians in undertaking various tasks to ensure the care services provided to the patient is seamless.  The tasks undertaken by clinicians in form of physical examination and diagnosis of the disease indicates the clinical interoperability under then human layer that ensures that the 22-year old patient is offered the appropriate healthcare services.  It is achieved when the data is collected and used for treating the disease that the patient is suffering from.  The technology interoperability makes it possible for human layer interoperability to be seen in the case (Benson, & Grieve 2016).  This is largely observed in the technical interoperability, where data collected from the consultation by the patient, physical examination and the clinical diagnosis, where the information collected was updated in the organization’s electronic records and even the generation of the ordered work list item needed for radiology System.

 Technical interoperability involves moving information from one system to another so that distance does not become an issue. Given that the technical interoperability is considered as domain independent, it has no regard for the meaning of the information being exchanged (Benson, & Grieve 2016).  The exchange of the aforementioned information regarding the condition of the 22-year old patient was done through the systems that did not care to understand or alter the data they are conveying to other systems. The data layer interoperability is seen in semantic interoperability once the exchange of collected information (Benson, & Grieve 2016). The passage of information to EHR in absence of any prior negotiation and which works to provide support in decision making, data inquiries and is a good indication of semantic interoperability. The clinical information has to be understood by those collecting it at the lab and the end users who include both the clinicians and the 22-year old patient.  The organization layer interoperability is seen in the information governance or control while dealing with the patient (Benson, & Grieve 2016). The control of the information across the entire process ensures that the required data in terms of work list is obtained.

Reference

Benson, T., & Grieve, G. (2016). Principles of Health Interoperability: SNOMED CT, HL7 and FHIR. Cham: Springer International Publishing.19-23