Interoperability in healthcare is the extent to which various systems and devices can not only exchange data, but interpret that data and display it in a user-friendly way. Practically speaking, this means that data exchange methods will allow data to be shared across hospitals, pharmacies, labs, clinicians and patients, regardless of which vendor is used.
According to the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), interoperability of healthcare IT should work on three levels to advance healthcare for individuals and communities, including