In an effort to ensure that both U.S. and European healthcare providers will be able to share electronic health records (EHRs), authorities from both continents recently announced that they will promote a common language that will enable a greater level of interoperability.
Some experts have expressed concern that EHR infrastructure will become fractured, and that healthcare providers in one part of the country won't be able to share information with physicians in another part of the country – let alone another part of the world.
However, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius recently announced a plan to collaborate with the European Commission on Digital Agenda to develop an EHR language that could spur the launch of an international health information exchange network, according to Government Health IT.
As part of the agreement, U.S. and European authorities will share information on their EHR efforts as well as communicate about developing a list of shared goals. This could lead to the creation of a more seamless network that allows for the free flow of information across the Atlantic.
The news site Fierce EMR reports that the use of health IT in Europe is much lower than in the U.S. The agreement could help in the development of a strong international partner for American healthcare providers interested in using technology.