What is an interoperability bus for health information exchange?

Interoperability in healthcare is a requirement for effective communication between entities, to ensure timely access to up-to-date medical information and knowledge about patients and therefore facilitate consistent patient care. An interoperability bus for healthcare (BIS) is a software and hardware architecture model that facilitates the exchange of health information between different information systems, such as electronic health records (EHR), laboratory information systems (LIS), medication management systems, electronic prescription, among other health care applications. This is commonly based on the Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) middleware software architecture as a solution for three of the four levels of interoperability for health information systems: foundational, structural and semantic. This type of technological infrastructure is designed to allow communication and data exchange with a principle of technological neutrality, ensuring that healthcare providers have access to the information they need to provide effective patient care, empowering the citizen on the value of your health data to improve traceability and healthcare. This document contains a practical guide to have a greater understanding of what a Health Interoperability Bus (BIS) is, what its characteristics are and why it is necessary to consider this type of solutions to have a greater impact on the health of populations. of the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. Likewise, it aims to guide those governments and entities that are developing acquisition processes for this type of solutions, those who are in charge of auditing, transparency of investments for financing and accountability, as well as the end user of health services who directly or indirectly finance health care.