Healthcare software compatibility is a critical challenge in modern medical systems. This article explores effective approaches to ensuring interoperability, drawing on insights from industry experts. Discover key strategies for designing AI-assisted healthcare systems, collaborating with IT teams, and adhering to crucial standards that promote seamless integration across platforms.
- Design Interoperable Systems for AI-Assisted Healthcare
- Collaborate with IT for Seamless Integration
- Adhere to Standards and Design APIs
- Build Modular Systems with Real-World Integration
- Prioritize Education and Adopt Interoperable Platforms
Design Interoperable Systems for AI-Assisted Healthcare
We approach interoperability not as a technical checkbox, but as a strategic enabler for context-rich, personalized care at scale.
In the age of AI-assisted healthcare, seamless data flow across systems is non-negotiable. It’s what allows us to understand a patient’s journey holistically—from website interactions and chatbot conversations to EMR records, clinical notes, and follow-up outcomes—and use that insight to drive better engagement, recommendations, and care.
Our approach focuses on three principles:
1. Internal Interop by Design – We design our systems—patient records, booking flows, communications, and analytics—around shared data models and centralized event logging. Instead of siloed tools, we have a unified profile and timeline for every user, making it easy to plug in AI and personalization engines that require longitudinal context.
2. Modular, API-first Architecture – Every system we build or adopt is required to be modular, with open APIs—whether it’s CRM, payments, care management, or telehealth. This allows us to layer intelligence (like AI-driven nudges, automated check-ins, or smart follow-ups) without rewriting the stack. If it can’t talk to other tools, we don’t ship it.
3. Workflow-driven Integration – Rather than over-indexing on compliance-heavy standards (like FHIR in early-stage settings), we prioritize fit-for-purpose interoperability that serves actual care and operational workflows. The goal is to make the right data available to the right people or systems at the right time—whether that’s a clinician, a patient, or a support bot.
Why it matters more in the AI era:
As we use AI to triage patients, personalize journeys, and improve adherence, interoperability is what gives the model context. Without access to patient history, engagement signals, or care plans, even the smartest AI becomes just another chatbot.
Interoperability isn’t just about systems talking to each other. It’s about creating a shared understanding of the patient, so that every touchpoint feels connected, intentional, and intelligent.
Gaurav Gupta
CTO & Head of Marketing, Allo Health
Collaborate with IT for Seamless Integration
Ensuring that healthcare software is compatible and interoperable with other systems in our organization is a priority. We place a strong emphasis on close collaboration with our internal IT teams, as their expertise is crucial in identifying and addressing potential integration issues. We believe that building regular communication with IT professionals is essential, as it allows us to understand the specific requirements needed for successful integration and compatibility. It’s about working together to ensure that the software aligns with our existing infrastructure while supporting the individualized, client-focused care we aim to provide.
In our experience, fostering this partnership has been key to evolving our treatment models and filling the gaps where traditional systems fall short. Our IT team plays an integral role in ensuring that we can integrate new technologies without disrupting the personalized approach that we strive for. By aligning our goals and continuously addressing any issues that arise, we maintain a smooth workflow and support our mission to provide effective treatment with humility and dignity.
It’s important to recognize that each piece of technology in our organization must complement the care we offer. This requires ongoing dialogue with the IT team to make sure that all systems are working together cohesively. Through this approach, we create a seamless experience for our clients and staff alike, allowing everyone to focus on what truly matters: supporting recovery.
Tzvi Heber
CEO & Counselor, Ascendant New York
Adhere to Standards and Design APIs
A reliable approach is starting with strict adherence to HL7/FHIR standards from day one—no shortcuts. Structuring data models and APIs around those specifications helps avoid messy retrofits later when systems need to communicate with each other.
Along with that, API-first design is critical—building out well-documented RESTful APIs using tools like Swagger/OpenAPI makes it easier for other teams or vendors to integrate without friction.
Another helpful move is setting up a sandbox integration environment that mirrors production interfaces. It allows early testing with EHRs, labs, or insurance systems and catches mismatches in real data formats or workflows.
Also, including a dedicated data mapping and validation layer (middleware or ETL) to handle variations in code systems like ICD-10, SNOMED, LOINC helps keep interoperability clean even when upstream systems are inconsistent.
Vipul Mehta
Co-Founder & CTO, WeblineGlobal
Build Modular Systems with Real-World Integration
Making healthcare software compatible and interoperable isn’t just a technical checkbox—it’s a survival requirement if you want your system to actually function in the real world of hospitals, clinics, and patient data flow. When we’ve worked with healthcare-related products or platforms, the first thing we do is build with standards first, specifically, things like HL7, FHIR, and HIPAA-compliant architectures. If your system can’t speak the same language as an EMR or can’t integrate cleanly with labs or billing platforms, you’re dead in the water.
We also take a modular, API-first approach. Every service we build—whether it’s for scheduling, patient intake, or real-time vitals—is structured so it can plug into a broader ecosystem without needing to rewrite the whole codebase. And we always vet third-party integrations early in the planning process. You’d be surprised how many dev teams don’t realize until midway through that a key API they need has rate limits or isn’t as open as it claims.
The real unlock is proactive collaboration with IT teams from the healthcare organization. You don’t just build in a vacuum and hope it fits. You get sandbox access, you test against staging environments, and you document every endpoint like it’s going to court. Interoperability isn’t about luck—it’s about preparation, standards, and not cutting corners in the foundation.
Daniel Haiem
CEO, App Makers LA
Prioritize Education and Adopt Interoperable Platforms
One key piece of advice I would give to organizations looking to improve their systems administration practices is to prioritize ongoing education and stay current with evolving technologies. In the field of orthodontics, just as in healthcare at large, it’s crucial to be aware of the latest systems and platforms available to ensure optimal efficiency. We have always focused on combining clinical expertise with the latest advancements in technology to offer the best care possible for our patients. This approach extends beyond patient care into our internal systems administration, where adopting cutting-edge software and ensuring that our team is trained on these systems makes a significant difference in daily operations.
It’s also vital to focus on the interoperability of your systems. This ensures that different platforms used in your practice or organization can communicate effectively with each other, minimizing errors and enhancing workflow. By adopting standards such as CDA (Clinical Document Architecture) or others that promote data exchange, you set the foundation for better collaboration and data sharing across various platforms. Keeping data secure and easily accessible is central to ensuring quality service and improving patient care.
Randy Kunik
CEO & Founder, Kunik Orthodontics
