Over 70% of UK MedTech firms are struggling to make their data compliant with the interoperability requirements of healthcare IT systems, it has emerged.
InterSystems surveyed 100 senior MedTech personnel in the UK and Ireland, showing that almost three quarters are still battling to make their data interoperable with today’s healthcare data standards.
Figures also revealed that almost a third (29%) of MedTech firms in the UK and Ireland have a data platform which simply doesn’t work with current health data standards – while over a third are claiming that in-house skills shortages are the biggest difficulty for interoperability.
A “major stumbling block” for MedTech
Chris Norton, managing director UK & Ireland, InterSystems called the data a “major stumbling block” for the MedTech sector, which is preventing the growth of companies which have huge potential.
He added: “Medtech companies can only overcome the serious skills shortage they face through more effective technology – specifically through the deployment of unified data platforms purpose-built for the healthcare sector.
“This technology takes care of cleaning up data and making it fully usable and compliant in the world’s major healthcare systems.”
“Medtech companies can fulfill their ambitions if they implement data platforms that are fully interoperable.
“This is the fastest and most cost-effective way for them to drive uptake and fully exploit the advantages of the cloud.
“Medtechs, whatever their workload, should no longer be limited by interoperability problems or data platforms that fail to scale.”
Becky Warnes is an award winning business consultant, supporting NHS and industry with digital and commercial strategy. Speaking to Health Tech World, she said:
“I think there are two issues that are preventing interoperability. The first is a lack of end user engagement at the planning and MVP development stage.
“This leads to standalone solutions because developers are unaware of digital roadmaps and strategies that the Healthcare providers are working towards.
“There is also the situation where incumbent suppliers dominate a particular market and do not want other firms integrating with their solutions for fear of losing business later down the line.
“In this instance delay tactics tend to be the norm, and I have seen new comers to a market give up trying because the environment has been made so hard.
“The solution is co-design with end users who will not only provide insights into their working environment and strategic digital goals, but will also be in a position to force incumbent suppliers to engage.”
Dr Owain Rhys Hughes, surgeon and founder of Cinapsis (which provides primary and secondary care teams with the digital tools to communicate and collaborate on care and referrals), said: “Every MedTech innovator has a responsibility to ensure that the technology they are providing can handle the sensitive, personal data necessarily shared within healthcare services safely and securely.
“Meeting this level of data compliance requires a degree of interoperability which enables a solution to integrate effectively with other digital systems already in use.
“This means it can easily and securely share data, without the need for manual intervention. Non-interoperable technology ultimately creates more problems for clinicians than it solves; not only is it less likely to meet data compliance regulations, but will add to the workload of the clinicians it is trying to help.
“To successfully build interoperability into a medtech solution, it should be consciously woven into every aspect of product design. This is no simple task, but it can and should be prioritised.
“Communicate with end users from the very start of product development, to understand exactly how and where any new technology will need to integrate with other systems.
“Then, share this internally, to ensure that it is actively prioritised at every stage of design. Placing interoperability front and centre from day one will ultimately help result in a solution that by its nature can seamlessly integrate with other systems, share data securely and provide genuine improvements for its end users.”
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