Survey Finds Majority of Health CIOs Want Interoperability Foundational to EHRs, Costs and Fragmentation Block the Path

Nearly 90% of health IT leaders surveyed say vendor consolidation is crucial to their interoperability strategy, while less than one-fifth currently have the technology required to provide it

SAN DIEGO, March 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- CliniComp, the pioneer in high-performing, reliable, electronic health record (EHR) solutions, today announced the results of a new CHIME Foundation survey of Chief Information Officers (CIOs) that highlights the growing importance of interoperability in healthcare, and the economic and technology gaps that are preventing healthcare organizations of all sizes from implementing it. 

According to the survey respondents, 89% of health IT leaders believe that vendor consolidation is key to building and executing on interoperability in their EHRs, as only 16% reported that vendor agnostic interoperability is provided by their core EHR at this time. While interoperability discussions have traditionally centered on concerns over technology and standards, CIOs overwhelmingly cited the cost of initial and ongoing integration (47%) and vendor unwillingness and delays (42%) as their biggest barriers to implementation, with many often relying on bolted on or customized one-off solutions to solve integration issues.

"The survey shows that healthcare organizations want interoperability, and that the concerns of the past, technology and standards alignment, are no longer front and center, and what we need now is a realistic path forward in terms of cost and vendor readiness," said Kem Graham, Vice President, Growth and Strategy at CliniComp. "The results have also revealed that CIOs deeply understand the value of interoperability and what it can bring to their healthcare system." 

For example, 47% of CIOs recognize that, while they have all the data they need, it lives in disconnected systems and that interoperability has been treated as a project rather than as the foundational architecture. Further, they know the difference true interoperability could make: 58% cite improved care coordination, and 37% cite either improved patient safety and reduced medical errors or reduced costs and duplication as positive potential outcomes.

"What was surprising is that these struggles aren't reserved for small health systems. Many survey respondents representing hospitals with 500+ beds reported that they presently cannot engage in all four domains of interoperability: sending, receiving, finding, and integrating data," said Graham. "Regardless of size, all respondents are now focused on outcomes that create a better, more connected health experience for everyone involved, and that sends a clear message about the direction of healthcare."

Health IT leaders also have a clear picture of who they think should be responsible for moving interoperability forward in healthcare, with most pointing to industry consortiums, followed by EHR vendors, and health systems themselves, and believe that collaboration, support for integration, and vendor-agnostic capabilities are key to making it happen.

About the CHIME Foundation

The CHIME Foundation is the affiliate organization of the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) and is comprised of healthcare IT companies and professional services firms dedicated to collaborating with healthcare CIOs and IT leaders. The Foundation fosters collaboration and innovation to improve healthcare through the effective use of information management.

About CliniComp

CliniComp is a global healthcare IT leader with over 40 years of advanced innovation. Their New Era EHR Solution Suite offers a comprehensive, end-to-end platform with native AI and integrated ancillary solutions across the care continuum. CliniComp's unique System as a Service (SYaaS) model delivers rapid deployment, all-inclusive support, and eliminates high cost. In 2024 and 2025, CliniComp earned top honors from MedTech Breakthrough, including "Best Electronic Health Record Service" and the "EHR Innovation Award." CliniComp was also named a Top 50 Healthcare Technology Company in 2025 and received the Platinum Pinnacle Award for Healthcare Technology Trailblazer. Designed by clinicians for clinicians, its web-based EHR ensures seamless interoperability, real-time performance, and unmatched reliability—even in the most complex hospital environments with no planned downtime. Learn more at CliniComp.com and follow us on LinkedIn and X.

Media contact:
Supreme Communications for CliniComp
[email protected]

SOURCE CliniComp