How to improve healthcare outcomes through interoperability: A further step into health digitalization

• Main Author: Gaspar, Ricardo Jorge Cabrita
• Publication Date: 2023
• Format: Master thesis
• Language: por
• Source: Repositórios Científicos de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (RCAAP)
• Download full: http://hdl.handle.net/10071/30094
• topic: Electronic health Rrecords; Burnout; Interoperability; Semantic; Registo de saúde electrónico; Síndrome de burnout -- Burnout syndrome; Interoperabilidade; Semântica

In primary healthcare in Portugal, the tests requested by GP’s are not automatically entered into the patient's electronic health record (EHR) - with only a few ongoing pilots integrating test values/reports directly into the patient's medical record - resulting in a significant expenditure of their time to input them into the system. A literature review revealed quite significant data regarding the time doctors lose due to information systems. Although it is not the only factor, the pressure exerted by information systems on doctors is a factor contributing to their exhaustion, frustration, and fatigue, which can lead to various consequences, including early retirement, depression, and personal and marital problems. In this context, it was decided to understand how healthcare information systems could be improved to address this issue, choosing to study semantic interoperability. To compare with international data and obtain concrete information on interoperability, 10 doctors and 2 professionals in the field of medical informatics were interviewed. The results from doctors were consistent with international data. The time lost and the wear and tear caused by information systems were significant. Interviews with experts in medical informatics were quite clear regarding the relevance of SNOMED terminology and its impact on semantic interoperability. The importance of semantics was revealed here, including obtaining reliable and valuable data, leveraging information systems, and improving interoperability and healthcare outcomes.