Does Interoperability Have an ROI? NextGen Says the Answer Is Hiding in Plain Sight
Many IT leaders still hear the same pushback when pitching interoperability investments: where’s the return? It’s a fair question, especially given how long the industry has been talking about it without significant progress. NextGen Healthcare (NextGen) sees clear ROI for interoperability hiding in plain sight.
Why Interoperability ROI Matters More Than Ever
Muhammad Chebli, Vice President of Product at NextGen, has spent years tracing how data moves through real clinical and operational workflows. When asked point blank whether interoperability delivers a financial return, he didn’t hesitate.
Interop ROI Starts With the Problems You Can Actually See
Chebli pushes back on the idea that interoperability ROI is elusive. The value appears the moment teams define the specific job they expect interop to do.
No-shows, for example, diminish when patient history and prior encounters surface at the right time. Referral-driven specialties depend on consistent, accurate data from primary care. Inbox overload eases when fewer transactions require manual review. These are measurable operational strains, and each one ties directly to whether data moves smoothly.
As Chebli put it: “Interop ROIs are easy to identify when you are clear on the problem you’re trying to solve… it’s not about did I buy this app or did I turn on this API?”
Data Flow Shapes the Business Model More Than Most Teams Admit
The financial story behind interoperability becomes clearer when you follow how a single missing piece of data can cascade across a clinic. A broken referral loop leaves capacity unused. Gaps in visit history reduce patient engagement. Poor visibility into previous encounters makes scheduling less efficient or, worse, leads to unnecessary repeat tests.
Chebli points to the practical side of this: some specialties cannot function without strong referral data. Getting the right information from upstream partners is what keeps the doors open. “Some specialists, their whole business is referrals. They do not operate without having a strong referral pipeline from primary care,” he explained, noting how tightly data flow and revenue flow are connected.
Better Interop Means Fewer Manual Decisions and Fewer Manual Costs
Chebli’s response in this interview leaves little ambiguity: interoperability has ROI, but only when the organization’s problems are well defined and the data exchange supports them. The return shows up in steadier referral pipelines, more dependable schedules and fewer hours spent sorting through noise. The most striking image he leaves behind is the one of providers drowning in either “too few documents” or “too many,” a sign that interop succeeds when it delivers the right information at the right moment, not simply more of it.
Other Highlights from the Interview
- How Info Blocking enforcement is moving from a technology issue to a policy accountability issue
- NextGen’s partnership with Kno2 for QHIN functionality
- Why APIs are becoming the true front door to EHRs
- How interoperability advances only when competitors collaborate
Learn more about NextGen Healthcare at https://www.nextgen.com/
Listen and subscribe to the Healthcare IT Today Interviews Podcast to hear all the latest insights from experts in healthcare IT.
And for an exclusive look at our top stories, subscribe to our newsletter and YouTube.
Tell us what you think. Contact us here or on Twitter at @hcitoday. And if you’re interested in advertising with us, check out our various advertising packages and request our Media Kit.
NextGen is a sponsor of Healthcare Scene
Many IT leaders still hear the same pushback when pitching interoperability investments: where’s the return? It’s a fair question, especially given how long the industry has been talking about it without significant progress. NextGen Healthcare (NextGen) sees clear ROI for interoperability hiding in plain sight.
Why Interoperability ROI Matters More Than Ever
Muhammad Chebli, Vice President of Product at NextGen, has spent years tracing how data moves through real clinical and operational workflows. When asked point blank whether interoperability delivers a financial return, he didn’t hesitate.
Interop ROI Starts With the Problems You Can Actually See
Chebli pushes back on the idea that interoperability ROI is elusive. The value appears the moment teams define the specific job they expect interop to do.
No-shows, for example, diminish when patient history and prior encounters surface at the right time. Referral-driven specialties depend on consistent, accurate data from primary care. Inbox overload eases when fewer transactions require manual review. These are measurable operational strains, and each one ties directly to whether data moves smoothly.
As Chebli put it: “Interop ROIs are easy to identify when you are clear on the problem you’re trying to solve… it’s not about did I buy this app or did I turn on this API?”
Data Flow Shapes the Business Model More Than Most Teams Admit
The financial story behind interoperability becomes clearer when you follow how a single missing piece of data can cascade across a clinic. A broken referral loop leaves capacity unused. Gaps in visit history reduce patient engagement. Poor visibility into previous encounters makes scheduling less efficient or, worse, leads to unnecessary repeat tests.
Chebli points to the practical side of this: some specialties cannot function without strong referral data. Getting the right information from upstream partners is what keeps the doors open. “Some specialists, their whole business is referrals. They do not operate without having a strong referral pipeline from primary care,” he explained, noting how tightly data flow and revenue flow are connected.
Better Interop Means Fewer Manual Decisions and Fewer Manual Costs
Chebli’s response in this interview leaves little ambiguity: interoperability has ROI, but only when the organization’s problems are well defined and the data exchange supports them. The return shows up in steadier referral pipelines, more dependable schedules and fewer hours spent sorting through noise. The most striking image he leaves behind is the one of providers drowning in either “too few documents” or “too many,” a sign that interop succeeds when it delivers the right information at the right moment, not simply more of it.
Other Highlights from the Interview
- How Info Blocking enforcement is moving from a technology issue to a policy accountability issue
- NextGen’s partnership with Kno2 for QHIN functionality
- Why APIs are becoming the true front door to EHRs
- How interoperability advances only when competitors collaborate
Learn more about NextGen Healthcare at https://www.nextgen.com/
Listen and subscribe to the Healthcare IT Today Interviews Podcast to hear all the latest insights from experts in healthcare IT.
And for an exclusive look at our top stories, subscribe to our newsletter and YouTube.
Tell us what you think. Contact us here or on Twitter at @hcitoday. And if you’re interested in advertising with us, check out our various advertising packages and request our Media Kit.
NextGen is a sponsor of Healthcare Scene
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2026-01-28 21:30
Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Healthcare Central is published from a syndicated feed.
