525 - Interoperability in practice – bridging the gap between hype and healthcare reality

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, host Peter Birch speaks with Nicole Allan and Federica Lanzo from Orion Health about the realities of interoperability in healthcare. Nicole, VP of Solutioning and Delivery, brings decades of experience implementing digital health systems globally, while Federica, Product Director for Interoperability, offers a technical perspective on integrating data standards and leveraging new technology. Together, they discuss what interoperability means at the point of care, why FHIR compliance is just the beginning, the practical challenges of working across sectors and geographies, the role of AI, and how initiatives like the International Patient Summary (IPS) are shaping the future of connected healthcare.Key Takeaways:🩺 Interoperability in a clinical setting is about securely ensuring relevant, accurate, and timely patient information flows between providers, reducing repeated tests, improving coordination, and enhancing safety for patients and clinicians.⚙️ The challenge of achieving true interoperability goes beyond just technical standards like FHIR; it requires broad adoption, stakeholder engagement, flexible approaches for legacy systems, and governance that aligns with local needs and realities.🏥 Real-world implementations that work are driven by phased rollouts, practical engagement with clinicians and stakeholders, and integration within hospitals and GPs and across community, social care, and justice sector settings.🌐 The adoption of standards such as FHIR and IPS is increasing momentum globally, yet transitioning from compliance to data utility means focusing on context-rich, easily consumable information tailored for clinicians and patients alike.🤝 Progress in interoperability is as much about social and organisational change as it is about technology; stakeholder collaboration, alignment on data governance, and willingness to evolve long-standing practices are essential.Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.Loving the show? Leave us a review, and share it with someone who might get some value from it.Keen to take your healthtech to the next level? Become a THT+ Member for access to our online community forum, meet ups, special offers and more exclusive content. For more information visit talkinghealthtech.com/thtplus Mentioned in this episode:Sign Up to the Free Talking Healthtech NewsletterSign up to the free Talking HealthTech newsletter for weekly digital health news, events, jobs, partner updates and Pete’s take on what matters across the sector: talkinghealthtech.com/newsletter