Role of Health Data Exchange in COVID-19 Vaccination Distribution

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With the path to COVID-19 vaccination distribution being handled by the states – the initial priority being on healthcare workers and long-term care residents – the role of health data exchange will be fundamentally critical.

According to a recent STAT article, while the innovation does exist, there is a gap in the use of data interoperability solutions for tracking everything from vaccine doses to side effects and continuing infections. Much of the thesis around this article is the use of paper and faxes for collecting and tracking COVID-19 infections overall.

As we highlighted last week, patient matching and health data interoperability is rising up (once again) as a key priority with our nation is dealing with another coronavirus surge.

The vaccine distribution challenges also point back to the vital role of HIT infrastructure, which helped HIEs and other care organizations to best manage response in early March and April. Ultimately, it comes down to the data that needs to be shared – whether it’s vaccination information, infection rates, symptoms, and more.

In April, we published a RosettaHealth podcast interview with Doug Fridsma, former Chief Science Officer at ONC; Tim Pletcher, Executive Director of MiHIN; and Buff Colchagoff, CEO of RosettaHealth. These executives discussed how the role of health IT infrastructure is driving a more-effective response.

A core part of this podcast focused on how health IT infrastructure is playing a key part in helping to share data with front-line care workers at field hospitals and testing facilities – without needing to re-invent new processes, standards and solutions.

The same HIT infrastructure strategies, with health data exchange being the foundation, can help ensure a successful rollout of the vaccines on a national level.

RosettaHealth can assist with any health information challenges you might have, book a free consultation with one of our interoperability experts.


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