Readers Write: Innovating the Consumer Experience Beyond the EMR with Open Standards

Innovating the Consumer Experience Beyond the EMR with Open Standards
By Robin Monks

Robin Monks is EVP of technology at Praia Health

Patients – and potential patients — expect seamless digital experiences. They’re getting them every day from their social media, retail, and banking apps. The difference in user experience between viewing a credit card statement and a healthcare bill is obvious – and shocking. At the same time, the costs of fragmented, proprietary systems for health systems are becoming unsustainable.

While we’ve seen progress in allowing patients access to more of their data, we’re just scratching the surface on data access and have yet to make inroads into data actionability. The lack of open standard adoption inflates integration costs, stifles innovation, and limits the true potential of digital health.

This challenge was the focus of our recent HIStalk webinar, “Innovating the Consumer Experience Beyond the EMR with Open Standards,” where fellow industry leaders and I explored the transformative power of open standards in healthcare. I was joined by Ryan Howells, principal at Leavitt Partners and program manager of The CARIN Alliance; David LaBine, vice president of software engineering at Providence 4SITE; and Kristen Valdes, CEO of b.well Connected Health.

We emphasized that open standards — such as OIDC (OpenID Connect) and HL7 FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) — along with broader open technology requirements are creating dramatic ROI where they’ve been deployed. They are strategic enablers that can dramatically reduce the burdens associated with integrations, data migrations, and workflow adjustments across the healthcare ecosystem.

These standards offer more than just future flexibility. They deliver immediate ROI by accelerating development timelines, minimizing rework, and significantly lowering long-term maintenance expenses. Every closed integration implemented today represents a missed opportunity to operate with greater speed, intelligence, and efficiency.

A key takeaway from our discussion was the critical role of open standards in fostering a truly patient-centric approach. The current landscape often forces individuals to navigate a labyrinth of disparate patient portals, each with its own login and limited data access. This creates significant friction and can even impede access to life-saving information, particularly for those managing complex or rare diseases. By adopting open standards for identity and data exchange, health systems can streamline patient access, improve engagement, and build stronger, more trusting relationships.

Our conversation also delved into the tangible business case for open standards, moving beyond mere compliance. By standardizing data exchange and identity management, organizations can reduce technology costs, automate manual tasks, and unlock entirely new business models. Examples shared included double-digit increases in lab completion rates and cash collection for health systems that have embraced open identity solutions. The ability to connect disparate data sources, from clinical notes to wearable device data, allows for a more holistic view of the patient that enables proactive care and improved outcomes.

We underscored the importance of leveraging established global standards from other industries. The financial sector, for instance, has long utilized open standards for seamless and secure transactions, demonstrating that these are solved problems that healthcare can readily adopt. This approach avoids the costly and inefficient creation of bespoke solutions, allowing resources to be redirected towards actual patient care and innovation.

For healthcare executives and developers who are looking to initiate this transition, the advice is clear. Identify areas where fragmented patient experiences and data silos create friction and cost. Assess how many applications are isolated due to proprietary identity systems.

The potential for double-digit increases in patient engagement and operational efficiency makes a compelling argument for investment. Advocates for this shift are often found among chief digital officers and transformation leaders who recognize the need for a broader, integrated ecosystem of applications.

A practical roadmap for open standards implementation involves a strategic, incremental approach. This includes auditing systems to understand existing data flows and identity challenges, developing a clear vision for interoperability, and creating cross-functional teams dedicated to this transformation.

Open standards are available for immediate adoption. Organizations do not need to wait for mandates or rely on proprietary vendor roadmaps. But adoption requires that vendors be held to open standards when evaluating solutions and during each renewal cycle. By actively engaging with collaborative initiatives and embracing these open frameworks, healthcare stakeholders can collectively drive innovation, enhance patient loyalty, and build a more efficient and effective system for everyone.

The time to act is now. The industry must move from business-to-business data exchange to truly individual-centered care.