Spilling the Tea on Last-Mile Interoperability: What’s Really Holding Us Back
- Converge Health
- Oct 10
- 2 min read
Pour your favorite cup of tea — we’re diving in.
At the Civitas Conference, Grace sat down with Susan Clark and Laura Young from Converge Health to “spill the tea” on one of healthcare’s trickiest problems: the last mile of interoperability. In case “last mile” sounds like telecomm lingo, it refers to the final, critical steps of getting data into the hands of clinicians, care teams, or patients in usable form.
In this post, we break down the highlights, takeaways, and what to watch for in the next 5 years.
What Does “Last-Mile Interoperability” Actually Mean?
It’s not just about moving data from A to B. It’s about usable, context-aware data at the point of care.
Many standards exist (FHIR, TEFCA, etc.), but gaps remain when it comes to implementation, usability, and integration into workflows.
Even with the best infrastructure, if the data doesn’t land in the clinician’s flow (or worse, is ignored), it fails the mission.
Top Insights from the Podcast
Data gaps quietly undermine care
Even when systems are “connected,” missing or mismatched data fields can cause significant errors or inefficiencies.
Frameworks like FHIR & TEFCA are just tools, not silver bullets
Susan and Laura discuss how these frameworks help unify structure, but the real work is mapping, context, and semantics.
Patients are becoming powerful levers for progress
Patient demand and pushback will increasingly force systems to expose accessible data.
Implementation is where the rubber meets the road
Execution — testing, mapping, feedback loops — often trumps theoretical design.
The next 5 years: innovation, scaling, and the unexpected
Expect developments in AI, patient-mediated interoperability, new data models, higher expectations from regulators, and occasional disruption.
Why This Matters (Beyond the Buzz)
Last-mile interoperability isn’t a technical luxury — it’s the difference between data that sits in a silo and data that changes outcomes. For behavioral health, social care, crisis services, and correctional health (areas close to my work), missing context or delays can literally cost lives.
Key Takeaways / Tips
Start with use cases you care deeply about, not with technology
Design for usability and workflow from day one
Engage clinicians, patients, and data stewards early
Monitor continuously: measure what’s used, what’s ignored
Stay nimble: expect change, and build flexible pipelines
If you’re working in health IT, data exchange, or care delivery, give this episode a listen. It’s equal parts “aha” and “uh-oh” — but mostly inspiring.
➡️ Join the conversation: what’s your toughest last-mile challenge?