Which term describes the ability of different health systems to share information?

Which term describes the ability of different health systems to share information?

• A. Interoperability
• B. Electronic Health Records (EHRs)
• C. CPOE
• D. MPI

Answer: (A)

Interoperability is the ability of different health systems to share information in a way that the data can be exchanged, understood, and used across settings. This means standards and common data formats so a lab result, medication list, or imaging report can move from one system to another and be interpreted correctly, supporting continuity of care. Electronic Health Records are digital records stored within a single organization, so they don’t by themselves describe cross-system sharing. CPOE is about entering orders electronically to improve workflow, not about sharing information across systems. MPI helps identify patients across institutions, aiding data linkage, but it doesn’t define the capability to share and use the data itself.

Interoperability is the ability of different health systems to share information in a way that the data can be exchanged, understood, and used across settings. This means standards and common data formats so a lab result, medication list, or imaging report can move from one system to another and be interpreted correctly, supporting continuity of care. Electronic Health Records are digital records stored within a single organization, so they don’t by themselves describe cross-system sharing. CPOE is about entering orders electronically to improve workflow, not about sharing information across systems. MPI helps identify patients across institutions, aiding data linkage, but it doesn’t define the capability to share and use the data itself.