Athenahealth Disrupts the Healthcare IT Status Quo with APIs

Posted by samantha on March 29th, 2021

Application Programming Interfaces, or APIs as they are commonly called, have made way into the healthcare industry, leading to advancements in the way healthcare providers communicate. The implementation of APIs in the healthcare sector allows vital information to be transferred back and forth between two or more organizations involved in a patient’s healthcare journey.

One such example is that of healthcare facilities transferring relevant data onto insurance companies through the API system set up that gives these companies the input needed to determine a patient’s covered for the treatment given. Where earlier healthcare organizations relied on phone calls and fax machines to get the necessary information relayed to the responsible parties, API has made it easier for all parties involved to send and receive vital data.

Bringing about a breakthrough among healthcare providers, Athenahealth brought their plans of providing a solution for other healthcare providers to reduce cost and drive revenue to fruition. This solution involved a software-powered service for Athenahealth providers and other healthcare providers that encompassed revenue cycle management, electronic health records, practice management, patient engagement, and much more.

Overcoming the many challenges that kept the healthcare sector from relying on technologically advanced innovations, and the greatest one of attracting innovators and entrepreneurs, they managed to give their idea a tangible outcome in the form of the software that made administrative tasks and many other processes within healthcare organizations easier and less time-consuming.

The Possible Rise in the Use of APIs

One of the key benefits of implementing API in healthcare has been the ease of interoperability. This ease has led to a rise in the use of APIs in healthcare, helping solve complex clinical problems. Ease of collection, exchange and transmission of data in a seamless manner has created a future for API in healthcare wherein every healthcare organization is introduced to it.

With API in healthcare, patients can be transferred from one service to the next while carrying along all of their data with them that gives providers greater insight into the patient’s condition for better treatment options. Transparency also allows patients to be aware of their condition with patient portals that give them the access to their files.

As the best healthcare APIs continue to collect and store patient data, providers will be better able to focus on providing high-value care. The key, however, is to ensure a standard protocol that improves interoperability and creates data that is easier to process and utilize.

Healthcare APIs certainly have much to offer in the world of healthcare with more improvised factors that allow providers access to more in-depth data and help them ensure better treatment outcomes.