A Year in Review
Key Developments in EHR Technology in 2024
Want to make sure your Electronic Health Record (EHR) system is keeping up with the latest technology—or at least understand what’s out there? EHR technology in 2024 evolved at lightning speed, setting new standards for patient care and operational efficiency. If you rely on an EHR in your day-to-day work, staying informed about these advancements isn’t just helpful—it’s a must. Let’s explore what’s new and why it matters to you.
Smarter Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning
This year, AI and machine learning took center stage in EHR systems, offering smarter tools for clinical decision-making. A few examples include:
- Ambient charting that allows you to focus on patient care rather than note-taking.
- Predictive analytics that enable you to foresee potential medical issues before they become critical.
- Early-disease detection features that help you diagnose conditions like diabetes or heart disease before symptoms fully develop.
- Treatment recommendations based on patient history and genetic data.
As you can imagine, these developments have elevated healthcare for many practices across the country. For instance, a recent study found that using an AI-powered deterioration model significantly reduced the risk of care escalations during hospital stays.
Better Interoperability Standards
Interoperability—the seamless sharing of data between EHR systems—took major strides forward in 2024, breaking down barriers that have long slowed healthcare progress. For practices using EHRs, this progress also comes with new regulations.
MIPS 180-Day Reporting Period
One key change is that the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Promoting Interoperability reporting period now requires a continuous 180-day timeframe. This means, as a hospital or health clinic, you can choose any 180-day stretch during the year to report your interoperability measures.
To meet this requirement, your EHR must support essential functionalities like patient engagement tools, secure data exchange, and health information sharing.
Tip: Ensure your system is configured to track and report data seamlessly, and select a timeframe when your EHR usage is strongest to optimize your reporting.
Are you exempt from this rule? If your clinic employs clinical social workers or qualifies under specific special status designations, you may be exempt from reporting Promoting Interoperability data in 2024. Log onto the QPP website to determine if you qualify for any exemptions.
FHIR-based APIs
The CMS Interoperability and Prior Authorization Final Rule requires Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, and other federally funded payers to adopt FHIR-based APIs. For hospitals, this rule has a big impact on how you share and access patient information.
What’s a FHIR-based API? Think of it as a digital bridge that allows different healthcare systems to securely talk to each other. FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) is a standardized format designed to make it easier for healthcare data to flow seamlessly between systems—like EHRs, patient portals, and medical devices.
What does this mean for your hospital?
- Better Data Sharing: You’ll need to create or use FHIR-based APIs to securely share patient data with other facilities, devices, or applications.
- Improved Patient Access: Patients can use apps or portals to view their health information anytime, improving transparency and engagement.
- Streamlined Operations: These APIs simplify data transfers, making it faster and easier to share critical information during referrals or when patients switch providers.
In practical terms, adopting FHIR-based APIs means your hospital must ensure its systems are equipped to handle these modern data-sharing standards. This might involve upgrading technology, working with your EHR vendor, or developing new solutions to comply with the rule.
While this requires effort upfront, the long-term benefits include smoother workflows, better care coordination, and more satisfied patients.
TEFCA Final Rule
Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA), is essentially a set of rules and guidelines that allows different healthcare organizations to easily share patient health information electronically across the country, making it simpler for doctors, hospitals, and patients to access medical records when needed.
The most recent update to TEFCA occurred in August 2024 with the release of about five new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to further enhance data exchange capabilities.
To comply with TEFCA’s provisions, your organization may need to:
- Assess Your Systems: Ensure your EHR and other IT systems are configured for secure, compliant data sharing.
- Update Policies: Review your data-sharing policies to align with the new information blocking rules.
- Collaborate with Vendors: Work with your EHR provider or IT team to implement TEFCA requirements, including necessary security and privacy updates.
- Educate Your Team: Train staff on the updated rules and how they impact day-to-day operations.
While these updates may require an initial investment of time and resources, the long-term benefits are clear: smoother workflows, stronger patient trust, and a healthcare environment where data drives better care.
HTI-2 Rule
The HTI-2 Rule, which stands for “Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability Rule 2,” is a set of regulations that expands upon the interoperability standards established earlier in the year with HTI-1. It mostly proposes additions to the ONC Health IT Certification Program—specifically, two new sets of certification criteria for IT developers:
- One set enhances data exchange between healthcare providers and public health entities.
- The other aims to improve interoperability between healthcare providers and payers.
With this rule, patients can access their health records more readily and seamlessly across different healthcare settings. It’s another push towards better communication and data sharing within the healthcare system to enhance patient care.
Expansion of Telehealth Capabilities
The telehealth boom didn’t slow down in 2024. Instead, it became even more integrated with existing EHR platforms. From seamless scheduling of virtual consultations to real-time sharing of telehealth patient data, EHR systems fully embraced the remote healthcare trend.
Notably, these integrations supported remote patient monitoring tools, allowing healthcare providers like you to manage chronic issues like hypertension or diabetes without the patient stepping into the clinic. This convenience dramatically enhanced accessibility, especially for patients in rural or underserved areas.
Adoption of Cloud Computing Solutions
This year also saw a huge shift toward cloud-based EHR systems. Moving away from on-premise setups, cloud EHRs delivered unmatched scalability, cost savings, and accessibility.
Cloud-based solutions offered a trifecta of benefits:
- Flexible Data Storage: Vast amounts of medical records could be stored securely on the cloud without physical infrastructure constraints.
- Heightened Security: Built-in encryption tools and compliance with healthcare regulations ensured better data protection.
- Reliable Disaster Recovery: Hospitals experienced fewer disruptions in cases of emergencies thanks to automated cloud backups.
For organizations previously grappling with data storage and access bottlenecks, the cloud proved to be a game-changer.
Implementation of Robotic Process Automation (RPA)
One often unseen advancement in 2024 was the growing use of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) in EHR management. This is the process of automating repetitive tasks like scheduling, billing, and data entry. It slashes administrative burden on your staff and reduces common manual errors—a win-win!
Integration of Internet of Things (IoT) Devices
IoT integration with EHR systems took real-time patient monitoring to the next level. Wearable devices like smartwatches and health trackers fed critical patient data—heart rate, glucose levels, oxygen saturation—directly into EHRs.
This capability empowered providers to keep a continuous watch on patients, particularly those with chronic conditions. For instance, clinicians could intervene sooner if patient data showed warning signs, transforming reactive healthcare into a more proactive approach.
Exploration of Blockchain Technology
Picture this: a secure digital system that safely stores patient medical records across multiple computers. That’s blockchain in healthcare. Think of it as a shared, transparent ledger that tracks every update to a patient’s medical history in real time.
For your hospital or clinic, blockchain brings:
- Stronger Security: Tampering or hacking becomes nearly impossible.
- Greater Accuracy: Authorized providers see real-time updates, reducing errors.
- Seamless Collaboration: Providers can access accurate, up-to-date records to deliver better patient care.
In 2024, blockchain’s role in EHRs gained traction. Its ability to securely store and protect patient data significantly reduces the risk of breaches—a growing concern in healthcare.
But let’s address the reality: blockchain isn’t perfect yet. Limited scalability and high implementation costs are significant hurdles that need solutions before it can become a fully integrated part of EHR systems.
Still, the potential is too big to ignore. Blockchain represents a future-ready tool that could revolutionize how your hospital or clinic manages patient information, offering better security, accuracy, and efficiency. While it’s not standard practice yet, it’s worth keeping an eye on as the technology continues to evolve.
Response to Cybersecurity Challenges
Unfortunately, 2024 was also marked by several high-profile cybersecurity breaches in healthcare. These incidents underscored the importance of robust security measures for EHR platforms.
Example: On February 21, 2024, UnitedHealthcare’s Change Healthcare unit fell victim to a major cyberattack by the Russia-based ransomware group ALPHV (also known as BlackCat). The attack caused widespread disruptions, impacting hospital and pharmacy operations for over a week and throwing U.S. payment processing systems into chaos.
The stolen data wasn’t just minimal—it included names, contact details, Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, health records, insurance information, and billing details.
Response: The fallout from the Change Healthcare cyberattack didn’t stop with disrupted operations. Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers has filed a lawsuit against Change Healthcare, highlighting the severe consequences of this breach.
As a result, UnitedHealth paid a $22 million ransom in bitcoin to the hackers, yet the stolen data remained unsecured.
Takeaways: The Change Healthcare cyberattack disrupted healthcare operations nationwide, leaving many doctors unpaid for weeks and halting payment processing systems. Hospitals and clinics faced significant downtime, delaying patient care and exposing the fragility of current systems.
Even more concerning? The hackers gained access using the username and password of a low-level customer support employee—a stark reminder of how critical basic security practices are.
For hospitals and clinics, this is a stark reminder of the growing threat of cyberattacks in healthcare. Protecting your patients’ sensitive information isn’t optional—it’s essential. Now more than ever, investing in robust cybersecurity measures is critical to safeguard your operations and maintain trust.
The Year Ahead
The EHR advancements of 2024 reflect a clear trend—healthcare is heading toward smarter, faster, and more connected systems. For healthcare providers, adopting these technologies isn’t just about staying current; it’s about transforming patient care for the better.
Looking to 2025, we expect deeper AI personalization, wider adoption of blockchain, and even more robust cybersecurity measures. EHRs will continue to evolve, offering healthcare providers even greater opportunities to enhance outcomes, optimize processes, and meet the modern patient’s expectations.
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