InterSystems has included a unified provider directory as part of its HealthShare suite of connected health solutions, aiming to drive collaboration and innovation across the care continuum.

HealthShare brings together health providers, patients and payers with a unified care record and the newest member of the suite, HealthShare Provider Directory – available as part of HealthShare 2019.1 – is a single source of information for provider demographic and professional relationship information.

Specifically, it is a master data management solution that automates the process of collecting, consolidating and publishing accurate provider information.

The latest HealthShare release also includes enhancements to its clinical viewer, expanded HL7 FHIR capabilities and out-of-the-box analytics functionality.

The move follows recent news that InterSystems launched a new TrakCare clinical system that allows healthcare professionals to use touchscreen devices to create patient notes with swipes and taps, capture images and barcodes via camera, and add information by voice.

According to the company, the upgrades to HealthShare enable users to more easily comply with regulations, enhance customer service and improve the efficiency of any business process that requires up-to-date and accurate provider information.

InterSystems HealthShare Vice-President Don Woodlock said the latest version of HealthShare offers more functionality, scalability, communication and extended decision support.

Woodlock added that inaccurate provider information has consequences for patients, payers and providers themselves as wrong telephone numbers and location information limits access to care.

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In addition, he said inaccurate information propagated across multiple clinical and administrative systems at a hospital or integrated delivery network can negatively impact efficiency and cash flow.

“Interoperability and information exchange are hot topics now, but technology can do better than simply moving data around,” he said.

“If government initiatives are going to be the foundation for innovation in healthcare, organisations need to aggregate information and build upon a true unified care record – then put the data to use to improve patient care experience, drive down costs and improve the health of populations.”

In addition, as part of the updated release, InterSystems has also renamed its flagship HealthShare product module, HealthShare Information Exchange, to HealthShare Unified Care Record.