Summary
Objectives: The main aims of the paper comprise the characterization and examination
of the potential approaches regarding interoperability. This includes openEHR, SNOMED,
IHE, and Continua as combined interoperability approaches, possibilities for their
incorporation into the eHealth environment, and identification of the main success
factors in the field, which are necessary for achieving required interoperability,
and consequently, for the successful implementation of eHealth projects in general.
Methods: The paper represents an in-depth analysis regarding the potential application
of openEHR, SNOMED, IHE and Continua approaches in the development and implementation
process of eHealth in Slovenia. The research method used is both exploratory and deductive
in nature. The methodological framework is grounded on information retrieval with
a special focus on research and charting of existing experience in the field, and
sources, both electronic and written, which include interoperability concepts and
related implementation issues.
Results: The paper will try to answer the following inquiries that are complementing
each other:
1. Scrutiny of the potential approaches, which could alleviate the pertinent interoperability
issues in the Slovenian eHealth context.
2. Analyzing the possibilities (requirements) for their inclusion in the construction
process for individual eHealth solutions.
3. Identification and charting the main success factors in the interoperability field
that critically influence development and implementation of eHealth projects in an
efficient manner.
Conclusions: Provided insights and identified success factors could serve as a constituent
of the strategic starting points for continuous integration of interoperability principles
into the healthcare domain. Moreover, the general implementation of the identified
success factors could facilitate better penetration of ICT into the healthcare environment
and enable the eHealth-based transformation of the health system especially in the
countries which are still in an early phase of eHealth planning and development and
are often confronted with differing interests, requirements, and contending strategies.
Citation: Beštek M, Stanimirovic D. Special Topic Interoperability and EHR: Combining
openEHR, SNOMED, IHE, and Continua as approaches to interoperability on national eHealth.
Appl Clin Inform 2017; 8: 810–825 https://doi.org/10.4338/ACI-2017-01-RA-0011
Keywords
Telemedicine - Common Data Elements - Knowledge Management - Electronic Health Records
- Health information exchange