Final answer:
The claim that complete interoperability of centralized and federated EHRs is already in place is false. Technical, legal, and financial challenges are being addressed to ensure the secure exchange of electronic health records.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement 'Complete interoperability of centralized and federated EHRs is already in place' is false. Interoperability in healthcare refers to the ability of different healthcare IT systems and software to communicate, exchange, and interpret shared data with one another. While there is significant progress in the direction of interoperability among electronic health records (EHRs), complete interoperability has not yet been achieved. There are various technical, legal, and financial challenges that are being addressed to improve the sharing of digital records among health providers, as this is crucial for improving the quality and reducing the cost of healthcare in the U.S.
Maintaining the privacy of electronic health records while allowing for their interoperability is a critical concern. For effective interoperability, healthcare providers need systems that can speak to one another while ensuring that patient data remains secure and private.