Interoperability

Interoperability is the ability of distinct systems to exchange information and use it meaningfully. It depends on compatible interfaces, shared representations, and agreed interpretations.

Application Programming Interface: A defined interface through which software components request services or exchange data. APIs let separate systems communicate through specified operations and data formats.
Technical standard: A documented specification that establishes agreed technical requirements or practices. Standards give independent systems common rules for interfaces and data exchange.
Health information exchange: The electronic sharing of health information among organizations or systems. Clinical records must travel between providers while retaining their meaning and context.
Compatibility: The ability of components or systems to operate together under specified conditions. Compatibility may allow systems to coexist without enabling meaningful information exchange.
Network effect: A phenomenon in which a product or service becomes more valuable as more people use it. Interoperable networks can gain value as more compatible participants join.
Data format: A structured way of encoding information for storage, exchange, or processing. Systems must parse exchanged information using compatible representations.
Open standard: A publicly available technical specification developed through an open process. Open standards can let competing implementations interoperate without a single vendor controlling access.
Electronic health record: A digital record of a patient’s health information maintained by healthcare providers. Different record systems must exchange patient information across care settings.
Portability: The ability to move software or data between environments with limited modification. Portability concerns movement between environments, not necessarily communication among systems.
Cybersecurity: The practice of protecting systems, networks, and data from digital attacks and unauthorized access. Connecting previously separate systems can expand the attack surface and require shared safeguards.

Linked from 28 pages