When systems speak to each other: the CIO view on interoperability

Teamwork, as every value statement in the early 00s proudly proclaimed, makes the dreamwork. And for this, communication is key. But when it comes to getting different systems to talk to one another, it can feel like a Herculean task. Scores of papers over the years have tried to measure the number of wasted hours this lack of integration creates. They all arrive at different estimates, but they all agree: it's too much, it has a huge negative impact on staff wellbeing and patient outcomes, and it costs a fortune. At the heart of this debate, CIOs have to wrestle with myriad frameworks and requirements. Frustration is a word that crops up more often than it should in these discussions. With so many requirements, we have to ask: Is true interoperability a pipe dream?