Interoperability Skills for Digital Health: A Reference Model from the XiA Project

As healthcare systems advance through digital transformation, achieving interoperability across Health Information Systems (HIS) relies on skilled professionals who enable effective integration and data exchange. Under the scope of the Xpanding Innovative Alliance (XiA) project, this article introduces a Reference Model for Interoperability Skills that defines the core skills needed by professionals to support interoperable digital health ecosystems. Through a systematic literature review, the model provides a structured view of competencies across professional profiles, grounded in international best practices. The proposed model serves as a strategic tool for workforce development, curriculum design, and organizational capability assessment. By promoting a shared understanding of interoperability, it supports the creation of a skilled, adaptable, and collaborative workforce capable of advancing integrated, data-driven healthcare across Europe.