Interoperability a Key Factor in Referral Decisions for Post-Acute Care

New survey findings revealed that electronic orders and interoperability drive post-acute care referral decisions for 99 percent of hospitals and physicians, yet progress in these areas remains limited. Many referral decisions for post-acute care hinge on electronic order capability and interoperability, according to a new survey of more than 130 hospital and physician entities. Referrals are a vital part of the US healthcare system, with over a third of patients receiving specialist referrals annually. As such, obtaining a referral is a relatively common occurrence. In fact, a 2018 study conducted by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and the National Patient Safety Foundation highlighted that close to 100 million subspecialty referral requests are generated each year from outpatient centers alone.