An eBusiness-based framework for eHealth interoperability

A significant challenge for eHealth systems is the need for interoperability of both the processes of care and the data that is used within those processes. Failures of interoperability can lead to adverse events such as medical or communication errors at the clinical level or inefficient use of services at the organizational or regional level. However interoperability is a multi-faceted concept that must take place at the clinical, organizational and regional levels. Thus we need to look at healthcare interoperability from an overall system perspective. Various eHealth technologies provide the tools to facilitate integration but those tools must be used within a framework that integrates all users of the system across the various levels. This paper presents an eBusiness based framework for eHealth interoperability that maps specific processes and tools and applications to the multiple levels of the healthcare system. The framework can help us focus research and system development efforts to enable eHealth integration.