Are shared care records the key to fully integrated healthcare?

The drive towards a fully integrated and interoperable healthcare ecosystem is accelerating globally. Governments and healthcare providers recognise the need for seamless data sharing to improve patient care, reduce duplication, and enhance health outcomes. At the heart of this movement lies the concept of shared care records, a unified system that enables healthcare professionals to access real time, accurate, and comprehensive patient information. But are they the ultimate solution to interoperability challenges?

The Evolution of Shared Care Records and EHRs

To understand the current challenges and opportunities in shared care records, it’s essential to look back at how health information systems (HIS) and electronic health records (EHR) have evolved over time.

How Shared Care Records Improve Healthcare Coordination

Shared care records provide a consolidated view of patient data across various healthcare settings, bridging the gaps between general practice, hospitals, social care, and community services. According to numerous instances globally, integrating care plans, multidisciplinary virtual wards, and patient lists into shared records has significantly improved care coordination.

Additionally, digitised end-of-life care plans have ensured that patients’ treatment preferences are easily accessible to emergency responders, reducing unnecessary hospitalisation.

Assessing Shared Care Record Maturity

Despite progress, challenges remain. The OECD’s 2021 survey found that while many countries have adopted electronic health records, only 15 out of 27 have implemented a national unified system. This fragmentation limits the potential of shared care records in creating a truly interoperable network.

The New Zealand experience highlights this issue, with a “patchwork” of shared record systems across the country, leading to inconsistent access to patient information.

Key Challenges in Shared Care Record Implementation

For shared care records to be the foundation of integrated care, barriers such as data governance, trust, and interoperability standards must be addressed.

For shared care records to be the foundation of integrated care, key barriers must be addressed, including:

• Data governance – Ensuring secure, standardised data sharing.
• Trust and transparency – Giving patients control over their data.
• Interoperability standards – Enabling seamless system integration.

A review by the Health Information and Quality Authority stresses the need for strong governance, patient control over their data, and transparent policies to maintain public trust. Meanwhile, NHS England has reported that the effectiveness of shared care records varies significantly across regions, with some systems seeing 210,000 views per month while others struggle with adoption.

Beyond Viewing: The Future of Shared Care Records

While shared care records offer a compelling pathway to interoperability, they are not a standalone solution. They must be embedded within a broader digital transformation strategy, supported by national frameworks, robust governance, and cross sector collaboration.

As demonstrated by NHS initiatives, shared care records must evolve beyond viewing to “doing”, enabling actionable insights, predictive analytics, and real-time decision-making.

The Path to a Fully Integrated Healthcare Ecosystem

The shift towards a fully integrated healthcare ecosystem is inevitable. If implemented effectively, shared care records can serve as a cornerstone of patient-centred care, driving efficiency, reducing healthcare costs, and ultimately improving health outcomes.

See how Orion Health’s Shared Care Record solution enables seamless data sharing, enhances care coordination, and supports better health outcomes.