What is meant by "healthcare interoperability"?

Healthcare interoperability refers to the ability of different healthcare systems and organizations to communicate and exchange meaningful data effectively. This capability is crucial in providing coordinated care, improving health outcomes, and enhancing patient safety. When healthcare systems are interoperable, they can share patient information seamlessly, allowing providers to access complete and accurate data regardless of where the patient is receiving care. This reduces duplication of tests, minimizes the risk of errors, and ensures that all healthcare providers involved in a patient's care have the necessary information to make informed decisions.

The other options touch on important aspects of healthcare but do not accurately capture the meaning of interoperability. Standardization of health insurance policies addresses regulatory concerns rather than the technical communication between systems. The implementation of electronic health records (EHRs) focuses on the digitization of patient information but does not inherently ensure that different EHR systems can share information with each other. Lastly, the practice of using telehealth services pertains to the delivery of care rather than the ability of various healthcare technologies to communicate and exchange information effectively. Thus, the emphasis on communication and data exchange in option A is what makes it the correct definition of healthcare interoperability.