Impact of Electronic Health Record Interoperability on Telehealth Service Outcomes

• Authors: Xinyue Zhang, Emory University; Richard Saltman, Emory University
• Journal Title: JMIR MEDICAL INFORMATICS
• Volume: Volume 10, Number 1
• Publisher: JMIR PUBLICATIONS, INC | 2022-01-01, Pages e31837-e31837
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.2196/31837
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Health Care Management; Health Sciences, Public Health
• Keywords: Science & Technology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Medical Informatics; Electronic Health Records; Telehealth; Telemental health; Pandemic; Health outcomes; Health Policy; PANEL-DATA ANALYSIS; EHR ADOPTION; US HOSPITALS; MEANINGFUL USE; CARE; TELEMEDICINE; INFORMATION; POPULATION; WORKFORCE; DEVICES

Abstract

This paper aims to develop a telehealth success model and discusses three critical components: (1) health information quality, (2) electronic health record system quality, and (3) telehealth service quality to ensure effective telehealth service delivery, reduce professional burnout, and enhance access to care. The paper applied a policy analysis method and discussed telehealth applications in rural health, mental health, and veterans health services. The results pointed out the fact that, although telehealth paired with semantic/organizational interoperability facilitates value-based and team-based care, challenges remain to enhance user (both patients and clinicians) experience and satisfaction. The conclusion indicates that approaches at systemic and physician levels are needed to reduce disparities in health technology adoption and improve access to telehealth care.