HL7 Is Foundational to Achieving Meaningful

JANUARY 2012

HL7 Is Foundational To Achieving Meaningful Use By Gora Datta, HL7 Ambassador; Group Chairman and CEO, CAL2CAL Corporation; Martin Entwistle, MD, HL7 Ambassador; Executive Director, Druker Center for Health Systems Innovation, Palo Alto Medical Foundation; and Grant Wood, HL7 Marketing Council Co-Chair; Senior IT Strategist, Intermountain Healthcare Gora Datta

After the plenary session in Boston in October of 2010, the first half- day session on “HL7 and Meaningful Use (MU)” was hosted by the HL7 Ambassador program. The meeting was standing room only, as over 100 people attended. Presentations followed on the HL7 standards that have been adopted as part of MU Stage 1 – Version 2; Version 2 Lab and Public Health Reporting; Clinical Document Architecture (CDA®); Continuity of Care Document (CCD®), and certified Electronic Health Records (EHRs) based on the EHR-S Functional Model. Grant Wood In 2011, the efforts to communicate HL7’s critical role in Meaningful Use increased dramatically. Chuck Jaffe presented on the topic at the HIMSS conference in February 2011. Formal courses were offered at the Educational Summit in March and in April, an Ambassador webinar was presented by Martin Entwistle, MD, and Gora Datta, which was attended by 218 individuals.

With the need and interest growing, a second session on “HL7 and Meaningful Use” was held during the September 2011 Plenary in San Diego, and once again, over 100 people attended. Martin Entwistle, MD

The objectives of the event were to help people learn more about:

• How HL7 is foundational to achieving Meaningful Use, using certified EHR technology • How HL7 standards are key for providers submitting data to public health agencies for surveillance reporting, laboratory reporting and submission to immunization registries • Benefits and challenges to providers achieving Meaningful Use objectives & incentives

The program began with an introduction to the various US national health IT programs and then focused on quality measurement/reporting and clinical decision support as fundamental to the success of these programs. Key initiatives, such as clinical document exchange, laboratory reporting, public health surveillance and immunization reporting, were discussed.

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® Health Level Seven and HL7 are registered trademarks of Health Level Seven International, registered in the US Trademark Office In This Issue... HL7 is Foundational continued from page 1

HL7 Foundational to Achieving Meaningful Use...... 1-2 Letter from the CEO...... 3 Finally, a panel of experts presented “experi- • Better access to information – the abil- ences from the field” – how small, medium ity to share critical clinical information Update From Headquarters...... 4-7 and large providers are achieving Meaning- among providers leading to better coordi- 2011 Ed Hammond Volunteer of the Year Awards...... 8-9 ful Use objectives and incentives as well as nation of care. exploring “What is Next for Meaningful Use.” • Patient empowerment – Structured Mark Your Calendars for May 2012 in Vancouver, BC...... 9 This included a discussion on the role new comprehensive information empowers News from the PMO and Project and developing HL7 standards (QRDA, HQMF, patients to take a more active role in their Services Work Group...... 10-11 HL7 EHR-S FM, HL7 PHR-S FM, HL7 Family health and in the health of their families. Upcoming International Events...... 11 History, etc.) are likely to have on supporting Quest to Bring HL7 to Blood Banking the future requirements for Meaningful Use. However, they are not available for all provid- Inspired by Financial Services...... 12-13 ers and patients as many health care provid- International Affairs: While the requirements of eligible hospitals ers still use medical record systems based on The HL7 IMATF...... 13 and eligible providers to comply with Mean- paper. In addition, not all medical records HL7 Pakistan Celebrates First ingful Use Stage 1 are clear, operationalizing systems, or more specifically EHR systems, Anniversary of its Affiliation...... 14-15 the necessary processes can be challenging. meet currently accepted standards for storage HL7 International eLearning Course– For small and medium sized providers, access and sharing of information. Recent govern- Keys to the Success...... 16-17 to timely informational technology help, edu- ment initiatives are incenting providers across HL7 Pledges to Empower Patients...... 17 cation and guidance are critical to adopting the country to make the switch to electronic An Update on HL7’s Tooling Strategy MU objectives and measures. Large organiza- health records. from the CTO...... 18 tions need to achieve efficiency, so seek to Tooling Work Group Response to establish standard routines and consistency The Health Information Technology for HL7’s Tooling Strategy...... 18 of process. This can prove problematic in Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, A Fresh Look...... 19 the event that there is variation in recording which was enacted as part of the Ameri- News from the PBS Metrics Team.... 20-21 or storage processes between departments, can Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Best Practices for HL7 Working units or regions. Other challenges experienced (ARRA), provides the Department of Health Group Meetings...... 22 include addressing the differing requirements and Human Services (HHS) with the author- Six Questions to Consider About for reporting to state and Federal authori- ity to establish programs to improve health Merging a CCD...... 23 ties and technical challenges in being able care quality, safety, and efficiency through the Where Are All the Standards?...... 24-25 to make electronic public health measure promotion of health information technology Pharmacy in Paris: First Joint Meeting submissions. HL7 has much to offer by way of (HIT), including EHRs and private and secure of HL7 and IHE Work Groups...... 25 support for solutions: electronic health information exchange. Ten Years of Patient Care in The Netherlands...... 26-27 • Improving quality of data collection, Under HITECH, eligible health care profes- 2011 Asia-Pacific HL7 Conference on Health Information Standards...... 27 and storage sionals and hospitals can qualify for Medicare

Certification Exam Congratulations...... 28 • Facilitating extraction and reporting of and Medicaid incentive payments when they key measures adopt certified EHR technology and use it to HL7 Benefactors...... 29 • Improving HIE interface capabilities achieve specified objectives. HL7 Croatia Welcomes New Chair...... 29 • Improving data transfer capabilities Affiliate Contacts...... 30 The specified objectives are defined in two reg- Organizational Members...... 31-33 Why Meaningful Use ulations that have been released. One defines 2012 Technical Steering the “meaningful use” objectives that providers Committee Members ...... 34 Electronic health records can provide many must meet to qualify for the bonus payments; Steering Divisions...... 34 benefits for providers and their patients: the other identifies the technical capabilities HL7 Work Group Co-Chairs...... 35-37 required for certified EHR technology. • Complete and accurate information – a HL7 Facilitators...... 38-39 complete clinical history available at the continued on page 7 HL7 Staff Members...... 40 finger-tips of providers for when they 2012 Board of Directors...... 41 need it. Educational Summits...... 42 Save the Date for HIMSS 2012...... 43 Upcoming Working Group Meetings...... 44 is the official publication of: Health Level Seven International 3300 Washtenaw Avenue, Suite 227, Ann Arbor, MI • 48104-4261 USA Phone: +1 (734) 677-7777 • Fax: +1 (734) 677-6622 • www.HL7.org

2 Mark McDougall, Publisher • Linda Jenkins, Managing Editor • Karen Van Hentenryck, Technical Editor Letter from the CEO By Charles Jaffe, MD, PhD, HL7 CEO Charles Jaffe, MD, PhD

The creative force of Steve Jobs has already become a enough. He did not confuse the pursuit of perfection with vital component in the history of both information tech- perfection. Jobs would never sacrifice quality improve- nology and marketing. His role is difficult to quantify and ment for time to market. nearly impossible to explain. He set a new standard for usability and intuitive functionality. His accomplishments Delight your customer. Under Jobs’ leadership, every- have redefined technical innovation, marketing savvy and thing Apple made was meant to exceed the expectations strategic vision. What can we learn from his legacy? of his customer. Even the product packaging delivered a message. His team spoke to customer focus as part of Never build something you wouldn’t want to use your- their everyday language. At Cupertino, nothing seemed self. Does your solution truly solve the problem it is to get out the door that was a compromise to marketing trying to address? Does it require you to break some- expediency. Delighting the customer was not a slogan; it thing that doesn’t need was an important part of fixing? We don’t want to the Apple bible. build something about The creative force of Steve Jobs which we might someday At HL7 we must change say, “If I could only tear it has already become a vital to get better. Our changes up and start over again.” component in the history of should be measured and Pride of ownership is a both information technology precise and always with powerful force in any cre- the customer in mind. ative process. and marketing... What can we Inside HL7, our products learn from his legacy? look complex and some- Elegance is simplicity. times overwhelming. Our While healthcare is hard, greatest challenge is to the sharing of healthcare information poses a much build the tools and guide the implementation of these greater challenge. Sharing information completely, reli- products to make their final assembly more straightfor- ably and unambiguously is critical to improving patient ward. Even the packaging should reflect our attention care and reducing costs. If we were to look inside one to detail. Ultimately, all of our stakeholders should be of Jobs’ products, it might appear complex and daunt- delighted. As I look back upon how we met the chal- ing. Almost certainly, no part was added without a jus- lenges in 2011 and how we have defined our goals in tifiable rationale. For the user, however, the complexity 2012, there is reason to be proud. never showed.

Continuous improvement must be built into every product. I never heard Steve Jobs quoted as saying, “I finally got it right.” In everything he did there was always the opportunity to make it better. Good enough was never good

JANUARY 2012 3 HL7 Celebrates Its 25th Plenary Meeting Mark McDougall By Mark McDougall, Executive Director, HL7

25th Plenary Meeting Healthcare Quality Promotion, Na- HL7 celebrated its 25th Annual Ple- UPDATE FROM tional Center for Emerging Zoonotic nary meeting September 12, 2011 at Infectious Diseases, Center for Dis- the Town & Country Resort in San Di- HEADQUARTERS ease Control and Prevention. Coming ego, California. The plenary program from a vast range of perspectives, featured a wide range of stakeholder foway; and Marc Overhage, MD, PhD, these panelists offered incredible perspectives on HL7’s value and con- Chief Medical Informatics Officer, insight to the value of collaboration tributions to our healthcare industry Siemens Healthcare. The impressive and HL7’s contributions to improving throughout the last 25 years. keynote presentations interoperability and the effectiveness provided insight on The program was HL7’s 25 years from kicked off with varying perspectives, a special video such as provider, health showing images of information exchange, patient care and in- vendor, and from formation technol- Canada’s approach to ogy from the last accelerate the devel- 100 years, and HL7 opment and adoption members from of EHR systems with the last 25 years. compatible standards. Ed Hammond, PhD Bob Dolin, MD, blowing out the candles A panel presentation discussed “How HL7 has delivered of patient care. value and the value HL7 has enabled The closing session consisted of through facilitating collaboration a panel of seven past Chairs of with different stakeholders.” Moder- the HL7 Board of Directors who ated by HL7 Board Chair, Bob Dolin, provided entertaining insight to MD, the panelists included Jamie HL7’s challenges and achievements Ferguson, VP Health IT Strategy throughout the last 25 years. Moder- and Policy, Kaiser Permanente; Rob ated by HL7 CEO Chuck Jaffe, MD, Marc Overhage, Richard Alvarez Kolodner, MD, Executive VP & CHIO, PhD, panelists included Wes Rishel, MD, PhD Open Health The video was produced by HL7 staff Tools, Inc.; and was set to the David Bowie song Robert Steg- Changes. This video was well received wee, MS, PhD, and is available on You Tube at www. Chair, HL7 The youtube.com watch?v=QG4CGRRtdrQ Netherlands; and Daniel A. Keynote addresses were provided Pollock, MD, by three-time HL7 Board Chair, Ed Surveillance Hammond, PhD; Richard Alvarez, Branch Chief, L to R: Rob Kolodner, MD, Dan Pollock, MD, Robert Stegwee, MSc, President and CEO, Canada Health In- Division of PhD, and Jamie Ferguson await their turn to address the HL7 audience

4 JANUARY 2012 dards Response, After going though all of the answers/ in which contes- questions on HL7 Jeopardy, includ- tants needed to ing a daily double and final jeopardy identify an HL7 question, Team Honkers won the Standard, Work game. It was a fun time for all. Groups, and Cast of Characters, Meeting Sponsors in which con- I am pleased to recognize the fol- testants needed lowing organizations that sponsored to identify one key components of our 25th annual of HL7’s many Plenary and Working Group Meeting colorful members in San Diego, California. HL7 Board Chairs applauding members of HL7 for their contributions to its 25 years of success based on Jeop- • Beeler Consulting, LLC John Quinn, MD, Stan Huff, MD, Ed ardy-style clues. • Gordon Point Informatics Hammond, PhD, Mark Shafarman, Many of our contestants discovered • iNTERFACEWARE Bob Dolin, MD, and Woody Beeler, just how hard it is to form an answer • iSOFT PhD. This informal panel • LINKMED shared stories about the key • Sparx Systems issues they faced during their administration, lessons learned The additional sponsorship sup- and proud moments. At- port provided by these organizations tendees enjoyed hearing such contributes heavily to HL7’s meeting valuable insight from a panel budget and is much appreciated. of industry thought leaders who also happen to be HL7’s Recognition and Awards legendary leaders. HL7 Fellows – Class of 2011 The HL7 Fellowship program recognizes individuals with outstanding HL7 Jeopardy Plenary Meeting Sponsors This special milestone was commitment and sustained contri- celebrated by a networking reception in the form of a question. All answers bution to HL7 with at least 15 years that featured assorted entertainment were subject to a final ruling by our of HL7 membership. Contributions by professionals, as well as a special judges, John Quinn, Ed Hammond and Continued on page 6 production of HL7 JEOPARDY. HL7’s Karen Van Hentenryk. Director of Technical Publications, Don Lloyd, PhD, served as the game’s “Alex Trebek.”

Team “Dingers“ included Liora Alschuler (Lantana Group), Beat Heggli (HL7 Switzerland), Ioana Singureanu (Eversolve LLC) and Ted Klein (Klein Consulting). Team “Honkers“ included Freida Hall (Quest Diagnostics), Jim Case (Na- tional Library of Medicine), Dale Nel- son (Squaretrends LLC) and Melva Peters (Gordon Point Informatics).

Examples of the categories were Stan- HL7’s “Alex Trebek” (Don Lloyd) explains the rules of HL7 Jeopardy

JANUARY 2012 5 to HL7 may be reflected through serving as a work- • Sam Schultz, PhD ing group or committee co-chair, serving on the HL7 • Rene Spronk Board of Directors, serving as an affiliate chair, receiv- • Maria Ward ing the W. Ed Hammond Volunteer of the Year Award, 15th Annual Volunteer of the Year Award Winners HL7 honored five members with the 15th annual W. Edward Hammond, PhD Volunteer of the Year Award. Established in 1997, the award is named after Dr. Ed Hammond, one of HL7’s most active volunteers, a founding member as well as a three-time HL7 Board Chair. The award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to HL7’s success. This year’s recipients are:

• Calvin Beebe • Fernando Campos Class of 2011 HL7 Fellows • Russell Hamm • Anthony Julian serving as an HL7 Ambassador, making presentations • Dave Shaver about HL7, publishing a paper about HL7, or other visible activity. These individuals have made significant contributions to HL7. Highlights of their involvement are provided in During the reception at its 25th Plenary meeting, HL7 the article on page 8. Below is a group photo of many of honored five members with distinction as HL7 Fellows in the recipients of this award throughout the last 15 years. the Class of 2011: Congratulations to this very deserving and impressive • Liora Alschuler group of award winners. • Jim Case, DVM, PhD

15 YEARS OF VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARDEES 1996-2011

Left to right, front row (reclining): Tom de Jong; Ed Hammond, PhD. 2nd row (seated): AbdulMalik Shakir; Russ Hamm; Tony Ju- lian; Calvin Beebe; Fernando Campos; John Quinn; Wes Rishel. 3rd row (standing): Amnon Shabo, PhD; Lenel James; Hugh Glover; Julie James; Patrick Loyd; Freida Hall; Diego Kaminker; Bernd Blobel, PhD; Helen Stevens Love; Mark Shafarman; Bob Dolin, MD; Maria Ward; Mead Walker; Jane Curry. 4th row (standing): Norman Daoust; Ted Klein; Hans Buitendijk; Rene Spronk; Frank Oemig, PhD; John Ritter; Gary Dickinson; Woody Beeler; Ken McCaslin; Jim Case, MS, DVM, PhD; Austin Kreisler; Charlie Mead; MD, MSc

6 JANUARY 2012 Benefactors and Supporters We are thrilled to continue to attract impressive numbers of HL7 benefactors and supporters, who are listed on page 29. Their support of HL7 is very much needed and sincerely appreciated. Representatives from these organizations are pictured at right. A special thank you is extended to those firms that represent our 2011 HL7 benefactors and supporters.

Organizational Member Firms As listed on pages 31-33, HL7 is very proud to report that the number of HL7 organizational member compa- HL7’s 2011 Benefactors nies is at an all time high, including 751 companies. We sincerely appreciate their ongoing support of HL7 via their organizational membership dues. HL7 Is Foundational, continued from page 2

Doctors Without Borders • Incentive Program for Electronic Health Records: The Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Pro- Each year, HL7 donates to Doctors Without Borders in lieu grams will provide incentive payments to eligible of sending out holiday cards. In addition, the proceeds professionals, eligible hospitals and critical access from the sale of “funny” ribbons at working group meet- hospitals (CAHs) as they adopt, implement, up- ings are also donated to this worthy organization. grade or demonstrate meaningful use of certified EHR technology Closing Thoughts • Standards and Certification Criteria for Electronic Health Records: This initial set of standards, On behalf of the former Chairs of the HL7 Board of implementation specifications, and certification Directors, I, too, congratulate and thank each and every criteria represents the first step in an incremental person that has attended an HL7 meeting and/or become approach to adopting standards, implementation a member of HL7 throughout HL7’s first 25 years. You specifications, and certification criteria to enhance have supported and guided HL7 each step of the way. the interoperability, functionality, utility, and security of health IT and to support its meaningful use Thank you! HL7 as an organization has taken a significant interest Best wishes to you and your loved ones for good health in these initiatives as they directly relate to the collec- and much laughter in your lives. With the holiday season tion and interoperability of clinical data; and a number approaching, I close with a short blessing to you and your of its existing standards are specified for use within loved ones. the implementation of Certified EHR Technology and its Meaningful Use (Version 2.x messaging and CDA).

May your neighbors respect you, Ambassador Program for Meaningful Use May troubles neglect you, to Continue May angels protect you, and May heaven accept you. Along with the excellent work of the HL7 Education Work Group and the summits and tutorials they offer on Meaningful Use, the Ambassador program will continue to offer the general, high-level, business aspects of the Meaningful Use issue. For the WGM in between the annual Plenary session, a one quarter only session will be offered to share updates and lessons learned while during the Plenary meeting, the MU Ambas- sador Program will cover two quarters of the Monday afternoon session with an in-depth analysis. JANUARY 2012 7 2011 Ed Hammond Volunteer of the Year Awards

HL7 honored five members with the 15th annual W. Fernando Campos is a member Edward Hammond, PhD Volunteer of the Year Award. of the HL7 Argentina affiliate. He has Established in 1997, the award is named after Dr. Ed Ham- played an integral role in the devel- mond, one of HL7’s most active volunteers and a founding opment of the HL7 e-Learning course member as well as past Board chair. The award recognizes (ELC). Through his efforts, HL7 was individuals who have made significant contributions to able to extend the e-Learning course HL7’s success. The 2011 recipients include: size from a 100 registrant maximum to over 400 individuals. Campos • Calvin Beebe, technical specialist, Mayo Clinic has contributed over 300 hours of • Fernando Campos, HL7 Argentina, and software engi- research and development to auto- neering area chief – Health Informatics Department, mate a portion of the course assignment review, making it Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires possible for HL7 to accommodate such a large increase in • Russell Hamm, informatics consultant, Apelon, Inc. students in the ELC. • Anthony Julian, technical specialist-interfaces, Mayo has been a mem- Clinic Russell Hamm ber of HL7 since 2005. He has played • Dave Shaver, chief technology officer, president and a vital role in the development and founder, Corepoint Health approval of the HL7 Common Termi- nology Services, Release 2 specifica- About the Recipients tion. He recently served two terms as a co-chair for the Vocabulary Work has been a mem- Calvin Beebe Group and is also a past co-chair of ber of HL7 since 2000. He has the Templates Work Group. Hamm is served as the co-chair of the HL7 currently the HL7 liaison to the Inter- Structured Documents Work Group national Health Terminology Standards Development Orga- for more than eight years and is nization (IHTSDO) and has been involved in the evaluation also the co-chair of the Structure of the IHTSDO workbench for use by HL7. Hamm has also and Semantics Steering Division of managed the harmonization of HL7 Version 3 terminology. the HL7 Technical Steering Commit- tee. Beebe is also a co-editor of the Anthony Julian is a long-time HL7 Clinical Document Architec- volunteer and has been member of ture (CDA®) standard, which is used worldwide and was HL7 since 1998. During this time, he selected by the US federal government for meaningful use. has held several leadership positions, He has also taught numerous courses on the CDA stan- including having been elected as the dard at HL7 functions over the past nine years. co-chair of the HL7 Infrastructure and Messaging (InM) Work Group as well as the co-chair of the HL7 Foundation continued on next page

8 JANUARY 2012 and Technology Steering Division for the organization’s and was influential in helping HL7 Technical Steering Committee. He was also appointed by gain both name recognition and the HL7 Board to serve as the Secretary to the Architectural adoption in the industry. He also review Board. In addition, Julian has been actively involved co-chaired the Infrastructure and in the development of the HL7 messaging standards, acting Messaging (InM) Work Group for as an editor for the Version 2 chapters on control, query four years, has assisted in several and network control as well as an editor for Version 3 in the HL7 demonstrations over the years at areas of transmission infrastructure, query infrastructure, the Health Information Management message control act infrastructure and lower level protocol. Systems Society’s (HIMSS) annual conference and hosts a Tuesday evening reception at HL7 Dave Shaver has been a member of HL7 since 1998. working group meetings for all attendees. His organization has been a long-term supporter of HL7

Thank you to these volunteers and all the other volunteers who contribute to the success of the HL7 organization.

Mark Your Calendars for May 2012 in Vancouver, BC By Michael van Campen, HL7 Canada Chair; Treasurer and Past Affiliate Director, HL7 International Board of Directors

As noted in the September 2011 issue of HL7 News, the May 2012 HL7 Working Group Meeting will be held in Vancouver, May 13-18. HL7 Canada is excited to help co-host the meeting, along with HL7 International. This is a great opportunity to continue the excellent standards development activities that HL7 is famous for, learn about HL7 standards, and learn lessons of how HL7 Version 3 has been instrumental in moving the EHR agenda forward in Canada.

Some of you may be aware that Canada is fortunate to have a national institution called Canada Health Infoway, which has laid the foundation for an interoperable EHR across the country, based primarily on two strong foundations: a national EHR Architecture and a strong standards framework. These two pillars have provided strong guidance to the HIT sector, outlining how each of the various elements, from repositories, registries and infostructure interact with point-of-service applications used in clinical settings. The language of communications throughout is HL7 Version 3, and Canada has made significant progress in advancing the use of these standards in our EHR systems.

The HL7 Working Group Meeting in Vancouver is sure to attract additional Canadian participation (over our US WGMs), so this is an excellent opportunity to work and learn with your Canadian colleagues in May 2012. On behalf of HL7 Canada, we welcome the world of HL7 to Vancouver – we hope to see you there!

PLEASE BOOK YOUR ROOM AT THE HL7 MEETING HOTEL

HL7 urges all meeting attendees to secure their hotel reservations at the HL7 Working Group Meeting Host Hotel. In order to secure the required meeting space, HL7 has a contractual obligation to fill our sleeping room block. If you make reservations at a different hotel, HL7 risks falling short on our obligation and will incur additional costs in the form of penalties. Should this occur, HL7 will likely be forced to pass these costs on to our attendees through increased meeting registration fees. Thank you for your cooperation!

Visit www.HL7.org for more information on these upcoming HL7 meetings.

JANUARY 2012 9 News from the PMO and Project Services Work Group Dave Hamill By Dave Hamill, Director, HL7 Project Management Office; and Rick Haddorff and Freida Hall, Co-Chairs, Project Services Work Group

SAIF Pilot Project Services is happy to be work- the Project Scope Coordination Project ing on this effort to help move HL7 Statement (PSS) Project Services is leading this project towards adoption of the SAIF architec- template; a result which is sponsored by the Technical ture. We appreciate and welcome the of their annual Steering Committee. The primary contributions from all those involved updates to the deliverable of the SAIF Pilot Coordina- in the SAIF AP projects. template. As tion Project are concrete examples of usual, our goal Freida Hall artifacts that can be used in a future Project Insight FAQ/Tip Sheet is to streamline version of an HL7 SAIF Implementa- The HL7 PMO and Project Services and simplify the tion Guide. have created a Project Insight FAQ/ template so that Tip Sheet based on a suggestion and it’s easier to use by SAIF Pilot Coordination will assist recommendation from the Project Fa- HL7 members and in the documentation of processes cilitators Luncheon Roundtables held provides the most encountered throughout the develop- Wednesdays at each working group useful data to the ment of projects under the SAIF AP meeting (attendance open to all). membership. (Architecture Program) umbrella that This document is intended to assist require input from more than one project facilitators with easily updat- Changes include: Rick Haddorf work group. The team is using RASCI ing milestones and project statuses, as • Addition of URL links to the charts to capture the roles and respon- well as understanding the lifecycle of Wiki Project Template page in sibilities of all groups in these efforts. a project within Project Insight. The the Project Document Repository The first use of this tool was to capture document contains screen shots indi- text box the interactions between groups as a • Addition of PSS examples to modeling tool was selected for use in cating which fields should be modi- the Orders and Observations Compos- fied when updating a project’s status; the zip file containing the PSS ite Order project. a state transition diagram depicting template and Project Approval what actions trigger a change in the Process Additionally, the team has decided to Status field in Project Insight; and a • Modification of the FAQ section use Project Insight to help model the table illustrating how all the fields in to indicate that a new project dependencies between the SAIF pilot Project Insight are used. ID should NOT be created when projects’ activities. This is the work the project scope changes. By we will be focusing on in the next Project facilitators can use this docu- keeping the same project ID, the several months. ment as a tool to make updates in ballot site can readily point both Project Insight on their own, or, as DSTU and Normative ballots to Overall, the project will document always, updates can be emailed to the same project ID. coordination conducted by over 12 Dave Hamill at [email protected]. • Removal of the ‘Withdraw a HL7 work groups as they proceed Standard’ checkbox in Project through over 9 projects under the SAIF Updated Project Scope Statement Intent, and change the FAQ to AP umbrella. From this coordina- Template for 2012 and Modifications indicate a PSS isn’t required, but tion, suggested contributions to SAIF to the Project Approval Process a Withdrawal request form must governance documents will be created be completed and submitted to as well as modifications to the HL7 The HL7 Project Management Office the TSC, following GOM 14.13. Project Life Cycle for Product Develop- and the Project Services Work Group continued on next page ment (PLCPD). will release a new 2012 version of 10 JANUARY 2012 • Addition of New/Modified HL7 In addition to the above changes to view the 38 minute webinar record- Process checkbox to the PSS the Project Scope Statement template, ing, go to www.HL7.org > Resources Project Intent the HL7 Project Management Office > Webinar Recordings. • Modification of the Ballot Type and the Project Services Work Group section by adding the following will make the following modifications This session, targeted for co-chairs checkboxes: to the HL7 Project Approval Process. and those leading HL7 projects (i.e. • DSTU to Normative Project Facilitators), demonstrates • Normative (no DSTU) Changes include: HL7 project tools including Project • Changing the time frame from • Addition of steps/tasks on Insight (HL7’s primary project reposi- 6+ months to 12+ months in who/what should be done for a tory), the HL7 Searchable Project Da- the In the FAQ for creating a new Public Document (The EC told tabase, GForge, as well as review HL7 PSS due to Change in Scope, Project Services to remove this) project processes and methodologies. change the parameter stating • Addition of notation that there is “The Project End date extends by an option for project leaders to If you’d like the PMO to present this 6+ months” to be 12+ months create a Wiki Project tab webinar at one of your steering divi- • Removal of Section 8. Strategic • Addition of appropriate verbiage sion or work group conference calls, Initiative Reference for PBS Metrics review/analysis please contact Dave Hamill at pmo@ • Addition of a checkbox under during SD PSS review HL7.org to schedule a day and time. Section 7. Realm: Was this stan- • When ‘Introducing New Pro- dard balloted/previously approved cesses to HL7’, add that work HL7 Project Tracking Tools as realm specific standard? groups need to send the PSS to All of HL7’s project tools, includ- • In section 5. Project Approval the ArB when sending the PSS to ing the Searchable Project Database, Dates, under SD Approval Date, the Steering Division for review GForge and Project Insight, are avail- addition of a checkbox: PBS able on www.HL7.org via Participate Metrics Reviewed (req’d for SD Webinar Recording: HL7 Project > Tools & Resources > Project Approval)? Also update the FAQ Management Tool Overview for Tracking Tools. section for this checkbox HL7 Project Facilitators • Addition of the following check- A webinar which provides an over- box in Section 1.Products: New/ view of the various HL7 Project Man- Modified HL7 Policy/Procedure agement tools is now available. To

Upcoming INTERNATIONAL EVENTS

CDISC Interchange Europe For more information, please visit Stockholm, Sweden http://www.hl7.org/events/Working Group Meetings April 16 - 20, 2012 For more information, please visit eHealth 2012: Innovating Health http://www.cdisc.org/interchange e-Care Vancouver, BC, Canada eHealth Conference 2012 / World of May 27 - 30, 2012 Health IT Conference and Exhibition For more information, please visit Copenhagen, Denmark http://www.e-healthconference.com May 7 - 9, 2012 For more information, please visit MIE 2012: Quality of Life through http://www.worldofhealthit.org/ Quality of Information Pisa, Italy HL7 May Working Group Meeting August 26 - 29, 2012 Vancouver, BC, Canada For more information, please visit May 13 - 18, 2012 http://www.mie2012.it

JANUARY 2012 11 Quest to Bring HL7 to Blood Banking Inspired by Financial Services By Robert Kapler, ABC Liaison to the Blood Bank HL7 SIG; Manager of the Original ABC BECS Conference Planning Committee Robert Kapler

From his years working in financial services information systems, at Haemonetics Software Solutions, has been working on the Jonathan Harber knew that bringing data exchange standardiza- problem for more than a decade. The process began when she tion into blood banking could be transformative. was employed by the Institute for Transfusion Medicine.

Harber, who recently resigned as chief informa- “I was running the transfusion service system that we used to tion officer at Blood Systems Inc., is no stranger manage patients, orders, samples, and blood products from all the to standardization. He previously worked at EFD/ different hospitals for which we provided services,” she said. “So eFunds, which runs the world’s largest debit card the need to develop interfaces was very important.” processing engine. Shortly after joining BSI, Har- ber realized that blood establishment computer Patti also participated in America’s Technical Advisory Group software (BECS) systems needed the same type (ATAG). ATAG advises ICCBBA on matters related to ISBT 128, the of common language that had enabled banks global standard for the identification, labeling, and information and retailers to enjoy the debit card revolution. Jonathan Harber processing of human blood, cell, tissue, and organ products. “Many of the BECS vendors have a similar weakness,” said Harber. “With few exceptions, they have no way HL7 Version 2 seemed like the right standard for transfusion cen- to import information from another system other than by manual ters. It was first developed for the hospital IT environment back in entry because there is no standard means of data exchange.” 1987 and, over the years, has grown to become the most common IT interface standard used by primary and acute care centers and A BECS may accept information from apheresis machines or labo- clinical lab systems in the US. ratory machines, “but they don’t have the ability to do in-bound interfacing with other software systems unless the center pays “There was much discussion at ATAG meetings a ton of money for a custom interface,” Harber said. Therefore, about electronic data interchange,” she said. while a blood center’s laboratory software might indicate a posi- “But the HL7 standard did not adequately sup- tive infectious disease test result on a blood unit, it cannot talk to port orders for blood bank tests and products, the center’s donor management software to automatically flag the especially for patients with special transfusion infected donor. requirements. It also did not allow for the easy exchange of information about blood products Harber thought that Blood Systems, the second largest blood- that had been selected or cross-matched for collecting entity in the US, was particularly suited to enjoy the patients. Blood banking is one of those special benefits of standardization, given that it had facilities in 18 states Patti Larsen areas that really didn’t quite fit in standard HL7 with complex software needs. He put his hunch into action two messages, even on the patient side.” years ago by becoming chair of the Blood Banking Special Inter- est Group (SIG) to extend Version 2.6 of the Health Level Seven So a group of interested blood bankers, ATAG members and BECS standard into the blood center realm. vendors came together to try to find a way to extend HL7 into blood banking. Larson became co-chair of the HL7 Blood Bank The SIG is composed of blood center IT and operations experts, Special Interest Group along with Susan Steane, then director of standards experts, and BECS representatives. The project team re- the Laboratory Information Systems at Vanderbilt University. ceives staff and marketing support from America’s Blood Centers (ABC) and has been co-funded by the Foundation for America’s The Transfusion SIG held its first meeting in January 2000. Over Blood Centers and Blood Systems. the following months, the group worked out a new set of HL7 messages, segments and trigger events to better support orders The team reached a milestone in September 2011 when HL7 for hospital blood bank tests and products. The proposal went International’s Orders and Observations Work Group approved to ballot in May 2001, was accepted by the HL7 Working Group, the final version of the HL7 Version 2.6 Implementation Guide: and became part of Version 2.5 of the HL7 Standard in January Blood Bank Donation Services, Release 1. The guide will be avail- in 2002. able on the HL7 website in the near future. Conference Catalyst. While the work of the SIG benefitted The specification and implementation guide are informally hospital blood banks, the problem of a data exchange standard referred to by the team as Blood Bank HL7 (BBHL7). When fully for blood suppliers had yet to be tackled. Then, in 2008, ABC implemented, BBHL7 will enable speedy and accurate data ex- held a BECS Conference in Silver Spring, MD. The event, which changes between blood center devices and systems, and eventu- attracted 172 participants, focused on finding ways to improve ally, between blood centers and transfusion centers. This should the FDA’s 510(k) clearance system for substantially equivalent help save money and reduce transfusion errors, thus improving devices, including blood banking software. One of the sugges- patient safety. tions that came out of the conference was to establish a common interface standard. The Forerunners. Harber was not the first to realize the need for a blood banking interface standard. Patti Larson, product manager continued on next page

12 JANUARY 2012 International Affairs: The HL7 IMATF Michael van Campen By Michael van Campen, Treasurer and Past Affiliate Director, HL7 International Board of Directors; Chair, HL7 Canada HL7, as an international organization, has funds to run affiliate operations, extending The IMATF has agreed upon a set of 15 affiliates in 36 countries across the globe. to membership categories and dues struc- principles and has developed four member- Each of these affiliates conducts meetings tures and education offerings. ship model options for analysis. in their countries to help support the use and localization of HL7 standards. In fact, One of the consequences of this approach, Over the coming months, a review of cur- (just) over half of HL7’s global member- specifically as it relates to membership rent practice is also anticipated in order to ship are members outside of HL7 Inter- categories and dues, is that there is a wide understand the implications of any change national. The activities of affiliates are variety of implementations across the affili- in the underlying membership model. becoming an ever increasing focus for the ates. Some affiliates look to provide lower organization as a whole, and are helping to cost memberships in order to attract larger Members of the IMATF include (note: not ensure that HL7 standards are the standard participation, while others have structures all affiliate reps are affiliate chairs): of choice around the globe. in line with other professional organizations, and still others have structures that • Michael van Campen (HL7 Canada) Early in its evolution HL7 recognized the align to neighboring countries or HL7 • Robert Stegwee, MSc, PhD (HL7 importance of country-specific focus for International. Netherlands) HL7 activities. The affiliate structure was • Bernd Blobel, PhD (HL7 Germany) created in 1995 with Germany becoming As HL7 looks to review its operations • Colleen Brooks (HL7 Singapore) the first affiliate, to be followed the next to more widely recognize the role of the • Beat Heggli (HL7 Switzerland) year by The Netherlands, Canada, Austra- “global” community, it needs to align or • Ed Hammond, PhD (representing US) lia and New Zealand. New affiliates are harmonize membership categories and • Margie Kennedy (HL7 Canada) becoming part of the HL7 family every dues. The HL7 International Member- • David Rowlands (HL7 Australia) year and help extend HL7’s reach to every ship and Affiliate Task Force (IMATF) was • Stefan Sabutsch, PhD (HL7 Austria) corner of the globe. created by the International Council in • Charlie Bishop (HL7 UK) May 2011 during the Orlando WGM to help • Libor Seidl (HL7 Czech Republic) When affiliates were created, they were solve this issue, with a particular focus on • Hans Buitendijk given a fair amount of local control in proposing a membership model that sup- • Mark McDougall (HL7 Staff) order to best serve the needs of their con- ports a consistent approach to membership • Bob Dolin, MD (HL7 Staff) stituents. This included setting up a local across the organization. • Diana Stephens (HL7 Staff) non-profit organization, allowing for lo- • Chuck Jaffe, MD, PhD (HL7 Staff) calization of the international standard(s), To date, the IMATF has met between and abiding by the principles of HL7 Inter- WGMs on a monthly basis and even held a If you have any questions or comments, national in such matters as open, transpar- full day meeting on the Saturday before the please do not hesitate to contact me at ent voting practices. Affiliates were also San Diego WGM in September 2011, high- [email protected]. granted the capability to raise their own lighting the dedication of IMATF members.

Quest, continued from page 12 Given the work that had already been done with to us and said ‘We believe in the efficiencies that could be gained HL7, and the fact that it was the most popular by standardizing those message exchanges. Do you want to work interface standard for hospitals, the group decided with us?’ We said “Sure.” to pursue HL7 once more. Harber and Larson set about putting together a multi-disciplinary group Loyd praised the ABC HL7 for bringing together the vendor, of experts and stakeholders. standards and blood banking resources to develop a standard that meets the greatest number of needs. “The cross-functional Enter an HL7 Expert. Helping to guide the industry expert panel that Jonathan and ABC put together is in the group is Patrick Loyd, a California-based private Patrick Loyd top 5 percent of those that have come before HL7 International consultant affiliated with DP Sciences. Loyd has in all my years of doing HL7 interfaces and being part of the HL7 20 years’ experience doing HL7 interfaces and eight years with organization,” Loyd said. HL7 International. He says moving the HL7 standard into the blood banking environment – a hospital supplier’s environment About the HL7 SIG – is a natural progression. The HL7 SIG was organized by America’s Blood Center and is composed of representatives from: BBCS; BloodCenter of Wis- “A few decades ago, a number of blood banking services were consin; Blood Systems; Carter BloodCare; Fenwal; Florida Blood not yet automated,” he said. “But as more have become automat- Services; Group Health Cooperative; GPI; Haemonetics; Health- ed, having a standard that will enable the interoperability makes care-ID; ICCBBA; ITSynergistics; Kaiser Permanente; Mediware; sense. So when Jonathan Harber and the ABC HL7 group came New York Blood Center; and Puget Sound Blood Center.

JANUARY 2012 13 HL7 Pakistan Celebrates First Anniversary of its Affiliation By Dr. Hafiz Farooq Ahmad, Chair, HL7 Pakistan; Director, Health Life Horizon Project; Associate Professor, NUST School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Pakistan Dr. Hafiz Farooq Ahmad

The time has come to celebrate the first research center. It became the first benefactor and created a anniversary of HL7 Pakistan by looking very strong collaboration with HL7 Pakistan, adopting HL7 at the successes it has achieved over standards by making its Hospital Management Information the past year. It was a dream until Oc- System HL7 compliant (www.shaukatkhanum.org.pk). tober 2010, when HL7 International approved Pakistan as the next affiliate at National University of Sciences and its Annual Plenary and Working Group Technology (NUST), Islamabad is the Meeting in Cambridge, MA, USA. As a top ranked university in Pakistan. NUST new affiliate of HL7 International, HL7 played the fundamental role to support Pakistan began with a vision to promote the pre-affiliation activities towards HL7 HL7 standards by arranging seminars, workshops, train- Pakistan in term of human resources, ing sessions and tutorials to create awareness among the infrastructure and financials. NUST pro- stakeholders in Pakistan. This article covers HL7 Pakistan’s vides a competitive research community, activities for its first year, October 2010 to October 2011. international collaborations and state of the art education (www.nust.edu.pk). Memberships: HL7 Pakistan offers membership in categories of Benefactor, Supporter, Organizational, Professional Aga Khan University and Hospital, and Student. The membership is open to all and in one year Karachi is among the well-known uni- we have approximately 50 members in the categories above, versities of Pakistan with associated top three of which are Benefactors. ranked hospital and laboratories network. Aga Khan has recently become our Shaukat Khanam Memorial Cancer benefactor by extending its collaboration Hospital and Research Center (SKMCH of special on-site training program from the platform of HL7 & RC), Lahore SKMCH & RC is the most Pakistan (www.aku.edu). well known hospital for cancer treat- ment in the country, having an in-house

Standard Trainings and Certifications: HL7 Paki- HL7 Pakistan has administered two HL7 Version 3 RIM R1 stan focuses on providing modular and comprehensive train- certification exams in close corporation with HL7 Interna- ing sessions of HL7 standards in order to improve the skills of tional. A list of RIM certified professionals is available on implementing HL7 standards for various health applications. the HL7 International Certification Directory, (http://www. hl7.org/implement/certificationdirectory.cfm?CertLocation HL7 Pakistan has successfully conducted two off-site train- =HL7%20Pakistan&sortBy=CertificationDate&sortDirectio ing sessions, with 50 participants on average, and one n=ASC). A third certification exam is planned for January on-site training session for Aga Khan University IT Profes- 2012 following the training session. Due to high demand, sionals. A fourth training session is scheduled for the first we will also be offering certification on the Clinical Docu- week of January 2012. ment Architecture (CDA) in the near future.

Workshops and Meetings: HL7 Pakistan also focuses on health systems. HL7 Pakistan organized the first workshop the promotion of healthcare standardization through work- entitled, “Emerging Trends and Role of Standards in Future shops and corporate meetings for the executives and policy Healthcare Systems” in August 2011. The workshops attracted makers of Pakistan. Their role is pivotal in encouraging local more than one hundred executives, managers and profession- industry to adopt HL7 standards in existing as well as future als from various private and government organizations.

14 JANUARY 2012 On November 21-21, 2011, a workshop was organized with HL7 Pakistan also holds regular weekly meetings to impro- sponsorship from Comstech. This was an international level vise the internal team structure, financials and memberships. workshop with audiences from abroad. Two HL7 experts Only members from the Management Board participate in from HL7 International were invited to speak at the workshop. these meetings.

HL7 eLearning Course: Our next focus in on launch- the management of complex healthcare facilities. It has ing an eLearning course. We were very pleased when Diego enhanced its expertise in healthcare facility management Kaminker (Convener of HL7 E-learning Course, Argentina) through its membership and affiliation to relevant interna- shared that out of 85 applications for HL7 International E- tional learned bodies and institutes. Adhering to its terms Learning Scholarships, 46 were from Pakistan. Facilitating and conditions, the HLH team developed and deployed the professionals’ passion to learn interoperability standards, an HL7 Version 3 based interface solution to CITI Lab by HL7 Pakistan has planned to launch the HL7 eLearning enhancing the capabilities of its existing laboratory infor- Course in January 2012. mation system to send and receive lab orders and results using HL7 Version 3 messages with mapping solution of HL7 Pakistan Student Chapter: Students are the best data to HL7 format. ambassadors of any campaign. Facilitating the future career plan of students in health informatics by involving them in Shaukat Khanam Memorial Cancer Hospital & undertaking their final year projects/research thesis, HL7 Research Center (SKMCH & RC): The SKMCH has Pakistan has launched a student chapter in the Islamabad a comprehensive hospital management and information region. Over time, it is planned to launch this program in system. The HLH team has provided customization ser- other major cities in Pakistan. This will strengthen the HL7 vices in order to create a tailored application for SKMCH, network among the academia of Pakistan and will result in making it HL7 compliant. research and development collaboration among different universities throughout the country. Strategic Alliance with Health Organization for Research and Development: HL7 Pakistan founded, with incredulous and unstinting efforts by its members, the Health Life Horizon (HLH) Project (https://hl7.seecs.nust. edu.pk). HLH started to work on health systems integration and interoperability three years back. The researchers ex- plored new horizons of the domain by publishing more than 20 research publications in reputed local and international conferences and journals. A total of seven post graduate students completed their master’s degrees by exploring and proposing innovative tools and techniques of how to incor- Conclusion and Long Journey Ahead: The past porate HL7 into the existing health applications. In 2010, one year has enabled us to connect various stakeholders from the of HLH sub-projects won the first prize of a departmental health industry by organizing workshops, training and certifi- award during open house exhibition. cation sessions. We have tried to capture the talent of professionals and utilize them in improving healthcare technology The members of this project have established a very strong services. We have endeavored to educate and convince people collaboration with local health laboratories and hospitals, to use HL7 standards by bringing automation to their work- which ultimately added to the overall activities under HL7 flows and enabling the out-world communication. We believe Pakistan. Two collaborators– CITI Lab and Shaukat Khanam these activities indicate that our efforts are on the right track Memorial– are presented as an example here. and that the people of Pakistan are welcoming the adoption of health standards in future systems. It is HL7 Pakistan’s hope CITI Lab: CITI Lab is one of the quality laboratories in to continue this advancement in the coming years. the country and possesses a wide range of experience in

JANUARY 2012 15 HL7 International eLearning Course – Keys to the Success

By Diego Kaminker, Chair, HL7 Argentina; Owner/Manager, KERN-IT SRL; Co-Chair, Diego Kaminker Fernando Campos HL7 Education Work Group; Affiliate Director, HL7 International; HL7 eLearning Course Coordinator; and Fernando Campos, HL7 Volunteer of the Year 2011; eLearning Course Coordinator Technical Lead/Coordinator, HL7 Argentina; Software Engineering Area Chief – Health Informatics Department, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires

The eLearning course (ELC) is directed towards application developers, software engineers, consultants and anyone who is interested in basic knowledge of HL7 standards.

The goal of this course is to introduce the key concepts of interoperability, HL7 Ver- sion 2.x, Version 3 and the Clinical Docu- ment Architecture R2. Each course spans over 14 weeks.

Since 2006 more than 2,000 participants have taken the ELC, which we consider a huge success.

The figures are impressive, but if we think about WHAT makes this course successful, the answer is: its TUTORS. The tutors are key to success: people teach, not computers. Since the course has no schedule, students can ask questions at any time, and a tutor will always be available to answer. The course is global, with tutors from almost every continent, selected from the top performing students. We would like to introduce some of them here and find out, in their own words, how they became involved in the ELC.

Iryna Roy, Canada, ELC Completed 2008, Tutor since 2009 – I obtained a Students by Country bachelor degree in CS and started my Healthcare IT career as a practice man- support to a drug information project. I began my career agement software vendor. Using HL7 Ver- as a pharmacist and changed directions when PharmaNet Iryna Roy sion 2.3 I implemented ADT transactions was implemented in British Columbia, Canada. PharmaNet between the EMR application and the hos- captures dispenses of medications from community phar- pital system. I completed the course in 2008 and applied macies in British Columbia using Version 2 customized Version 3 CDA skills immediately in the “MedicAlert Ac- messages. I am involved in HL7 International as a co-chair cess En Route” project, making the life-saving information of the Pharmacy Work Group and member of the GOC. In available to paramedics in Nova Scotia. the Canadian Standards world, I am on the Recently I joined the eHealth Ontario team HL7 Canada Council and also in Standards as a Senior Standards Analyst (Registries) Collaborative’s Medication Management to adopt, adapt, develop and promote WG. I enjoy tutoring the ELC – I keep HL7 Version 3 messages in the province of learning and get to interact with students Ontario, Canada. and tutors from all over the world.

Melva Peters, Canada, ELC Completed Xinting Huang, China, ELC Completed 2008, Tutor since 2009 – I am a consultant 2008, Tutor since 2008 – I am the chief as a drug information system subject mat- architect of Carefx China Corporation. ter expert as well as conformance testing Melva Peters continued on next page Xtning Huang 16 JANUARY 2012 Previously, I worked as a manager in China National Insti- ehealth systems. The ELC has been such a great experience tute of Hospital Administration, focusing on health informa- as I get to share and learn so much. tion standardization. Since 2010, I have participated in the CDA Workgroup of China EHR Committee, managed by Karen Garcia Salazar, Mexico, ELC Com- the China Ministry of Health. We have created CDA local pleted 2011, Tutor since 2011 – I’m glad to implementation guide. I have published 10+articles in core share this experience with all the students. journals about health informatics. I have a degree in infor- I work as a quality assurance engineer at mation management from Peking University and a degree Nearsoft (an outsourcing development com- in Clinical Medicine. It is a great pleasure to collaborate pany) and I have been involved with health closely with all other tutors and students from many parts care information since 2007. I decided to of the world. take the course to have a better understand- Karen Salazar ing of how HL7 interacts system-wide. Mike Muin, Phillipines, ELC Completed 2010, Tutor since 2011 – I am a medical doc- Cyr Bakinde, US, ELC Completed 2008, tor and a healthcare IT professional in the Tutor since 2009 – I have more than Philippines, Chief Information Officer (CIO) fifteen years of experience in information of The Medical City group of hospitals and technology, including more than ten years clinics. As CIO of The Medical City, I lead in software development and three years development of administrative and clinical in the healthcare industry. Currently, I applications including clinical system inte- work with systems that process HIPAA Mike Muin, MD grations, improved collaborative systems, X12 transactions. clinical data repositories, patient registries Cyr Bakinde and the hospital electronic medical record Milan Trninic, Serbia, (EMR). The ELC has provided us with skills, knowledge and ELC Completed 2010, Tutor since 2010 – A perspective for our interoperability work. I look forward to professional with over 13 years of industry continuing to teach HL7. experience, I performed in the roles of software architect, system analyst, domain and Victor Andrade, Canada, ELC Com- data modeler, software engineer and de- pleted 2009, Tutor since 2009 – I have a veloper, technical team lead, specification bachelor’s degree in computer science, and writer, and worked in different domains, have been working in Canada for about six Milan Trninic including insurance (life and health). My years. I work for Propharm Ltd., mainly focus is distributed software systems for focusing on software development for our different target domains and technologies: architectures, Pharmacies (i.e. a system called Nexx- databases, platforms, etc. sys, for around 1500 pharmacies around Canada ). Our system has been enhanced If you are HL7 certified or are an outstanding student Victor Andrade in order to be HL7 compliant with prov- of our HL7 ELC, and are interested in becoming a tutor, inces implementing their own ehealth system / repository please contact us. If you want to know more about the like Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan and Newfound- ELC or are interested in running an edition of the course land. In the near future, it is anticipated that Alberta, New in an HL7 affiliate country, please contact Mary Ann Brunswick and Ontario will also implement their own Boyle ([email protected]).

HL7 Pledges to Empower Patients

By Keith Boone, Director, HL7 Board of Directors; Standards Architect, GE Healthcare

Keith Boone

At the last working group meeting, of the value and benefits of health gov/pledge. the HL7 Board unanimously agreed information technology. We would to pledge to engage and empower like to further encourage our mem- We are pleased to join with ONC in individuals to be partners in their bers to take either the Pledge for Data this important national initiative, and health through information technol- Holders or the Pledge for non-Data we further encourage other healthcare ogy. This pledge was developed by the Holders as appropriate. More details standards development organizations US Office of the National Coordinator about the pledge can be found at the to follow suit. (ONC) to promote patient appreciation ONC website at http://www.healthit. JANUARY 2012 17 An Update on HL7’s Tooling Strategy from the CTO John Quinn By John Quinn, HL7 Chief Technical Officer

At our San Diego Plenary meeting in September, I announced 13 utilities and more. HL7 needs to expand the capabilities, that HL7 is making a decided shift in its tooling strategy. For visibility and availability of assistance for tooling to support its many years, HL7 has focused its efforts and resources on tools current and new future user tools. to support its balloting and publications processes. While more work could be invested, HL7 has, with the significant efforts of The strategies now being worked on in the HL7 Tooling Work its toolsmiths, created a reasonably automated and stable set Group include: tools that are available in open source; tools of tools that support its balloting cycles and yearly Version 3 with current and useful user documentation; and tools that can publishing efforts. also be accessed through our collaboration with Open Health Tools (OHT) in an online shared artifacts repository. It is now important that we shift our focus to supporting the users of our standards. The specific areas that appear to need the Working with the Tooling Work Group, over the next few most help include CDA templating, implementation specifica- months our strategy will be turned into specific prioritized tion generation and testing tools. plans for HL7 user tools. We will also take those priorities and, where appropriate and with HL7 Board approval, request some Some of you may not be aware that HL7 has significant user of HL7’s limited financial resources to accelerate development. tooling resources available today. You can find the existing set The HL7 Board is in general agreement with our approach. I of tools available on our website. Included are: 14 tool sets for will periodically update you on our status and specific tooling Version 2; 8 tool sets and other resources for Version 3 imple- deliverables as they unfold. mentation; 10 contributions supporting vocabulary resources;

Tooling Work Group Response to HL7’s Tooling Strategy By Jane Curry, Co-Chair, HL7 Tooling Work Group and Board Liaison Jane Curry

The Tooling Work Group has responded to the new empha- Group Meeting. This project will examine and improve the sis on user tools by initiating three new projects, which have various channels available to the Tooling Work Group to recently been approved by the TSC. increase the awareness of existing tools, how to acquire them, how to use them and how to get support for them. • The Tooling Strategy and Process Revision project will produce a draft strategy document targeted for the January • The Tooling Dash Board project will design and implement Working Group Meeting, trialed and then accepted by the an online pictorial representation of the current state of HL7 Board at the May Working Group Meeting. HL7 sponsored tools and of those projects developing and enhancing tools. A design is anticipated by the January This project will examine the current process and consider Working Group Meeting; however, execution will be depen- how to identify, gather requirements, endorse tools or dent on staff resources. acquire and maintain tools to support HL7’s own processes, as well as those that will make HL7 standards easier to All interested parties are invited to sign up to the Tooling implement. The strategy will include mechanisms to con- Work Group listserve, attend weekly teleconferences on Thurs- sider requests for new types of tools and enhancements to days at 10:00 a.m. Eastern or visit the Tooling wiki page at existing tools, priority setting criteria, acquisition alterna- http://wiki.hl7.org/index.php?title=Tooling_Work_Group. tives and user support considerations. We encourage participation from both potential toolsmiths and users. Future articles will provide updates to these three • The Tooling Communication Plan and Execution project projects, as well as any tool development or enhancement will prepare a plan by the January Working Group Meeting projects approved for funding. with expected execution of the plan by the May Working 18 JANUARY 2012 A Fresh Look By W. Edward Hammond, PhD, Director, HL7 International Board of Directors; U.S. Representative to the International Council; and Stan Huff, MD, Director, HL7 International Board of Directors W. Edward Hammond, PhD Stan Huff, MD

Over the past 25 years, HL7 has been to chair the Fresh Look Task Force, and needed to be forward thinking and guided by the requirements and the Board approved the appointment not redundantly addressing issues that motivations of its members in choos- of the following members to it: Stan were currently being addressed by ing which standards to create. At Huff, MD, (chair); Ed Hammond, PhD; the TSC and work groups. At the San the onset, HL7 members were clearly Chuck Jaffe, MD, PhD; John Quinn, Diego meeting, the Task Force decided focused on creating standards that Bob Dolin, MD; Sam Heard, MD, on two related but different direc- would permit the implementation of MBBS; William Goossen, RN, PhD; tions. The first activity would be to a hospital information system whose Mark Shafarman; Dennis Giokas; John address the problems and issues that components were identified as “Best Gutai; Nicholas Oughtibridge, BSc, relate to the near future. The second of Breed”. That standard, Version 2.x FBCS; Colleen Brooks; Rebecca Kush, activity addressed more future activ- (V2) continues to evolve and is widely PhD; and Grahame Grieve. ity – examining where HIT might be used around the world, but particular- five years from now. What standards ly in the US. Over time, a component The group first met at the Orlando- would be required in the future? What of HL7 membership pursued develop- Working Group Meeting. Several new new stakeholders might want to have a ing a new set of standards based on an ideas were introduced, one of which relationship with HL7? Clearly the area explicit information model – the HL7 involved developing an approved set of of informatics was expanding from the Reference Information Model (RIM). clinical information models in an open ‘omics’ community to clinical research That effort gave birth to a series of shared repository. Those in attendance to patient care, to public health, and standards including the HL7 Version 3 voted to move forward with this model- to population health. Many fund- (V3) messaging standards, the Clinical ing activity. The group felt that this ing activities in the US, as well as Document Architecture (CDA), other activity needed to be comprised of all around the world, were focusing on standards in clinical decision support, interested standards groups (ISO/CEN/ these activities, specifically looking at EHR functionality standards, regula- HL7/CDISC/openEHR/IHTSDO etc.) translational informatics, clinical effec- tory standards, domain analysis model and other private and national program tiveness research, drug development, (DAM) standards, and other work. activities, and should not be governed knowledge acquisition, and other areas The broader community often found by just one of the existing standards or- perhaps only peripherally address or themselves in a position of defending ganizations. One of the tasks for Fresh addressed not at all by HL7. the use of V2 or CDA versus V3. In Look will be to make a recommenda- an effort to bring some clarity to these tion to the HL7 Board about whether The task force identified four drivers issues, in 2007, the HL7 Board cre- and how HL7 should participate in the for information exchange: ated the V2/V3 Task Force. Stan Huff modeling activity. was asked to chair this task force and 1. Direction of healthcare, as noted the Board approved a membership of Fresh Look activity continued after the above, will change the data ex- 11 other individuals representing the Orlando meeting through conference change requirements international community and several calls and another face-to-face meeting 2. Integration of work across stan- domains of interest. The task force at the San Diego meeting. Most of the dards bodies to provide greater interviewed a number of individuals effort thus far has been in defining the value to users of health care within HL7 and in March 2011 submit- scope and focus of Fresh Look. information and to simplify ted a set of recommendations to the There has been a lot of interest in implementation Board as its final report. The Board Fresh Look – interest outside of the 3. Trends in information technology accepted those recommendations and Board-appointed task force. A decision that might impact the way stan- shared them with the appropriate bod- was made to have a combination of dards are defined, documented, ies to carry out. open meetings and meetings restricted and supported by tooling to members of the task force. The 4. Government, legislation, and regu- One of the recommendations was to obvious reason was to keep a smaller latory shifts will drive demand create a new task force to develop group to make decisions and to ad- and constraints on standards an approach to a new generation of vance the activities, while providing standards. The new task force was an opportunity for all HL7 members to Fresh Look will be just that – looking approved by the Board and named have input into the thinking and direc- ahead untethered by what HL7 is doing Fresh Look. Its activities would have tion of Fresh Look. today. We plan to have both an open no pre-conditions or pre-requisites on meeting and a task force only meeting architecture, approach, or technology. As one might expect, there were many in San Antonio in January. We invite It would simply be bound by the over- different visions as to what Fresh Look your support, activity and suggestions. all HL7 mission. Stan Huff was asked should be about. Fresh Look clearly JANUARY 2012 19 News from the PBS Metrics Team By HL7 International Staff Members Dave Hamill, Director, Project Management Office; Lynn Laakso, TSC Project Manager; Don Lloyd, Director of Technical Publications; and Karen Van Hentenryck, Associate Executive Director

Dave Hamill PBS Metrics (Projects, Ballots Withdrawing a project for a document specified as nor- and Standards) Report mative that has been balloted but not published requires The PBS Metrics Team would like to work groups to complete HL7’s Notice of Withdrawal of thank all the work group co-chairs, Proposed ANS form located at: http://www.hl7.org/ project facilitators and everyone permalink/?WithdrawANS. This form will act as a request else who had a hand in cleaning up to notify ANSI that work on a candidate standard is being their ‘infractions’ (i.e. red items). discontinued by a work group. The team continues to enhance reporting, visibility and resources to Section 13.01.07 of the HL7 Governance and Operations

Lynn Laakso make it as easy as possible for work Manual (GOM) in regards to withdrawing an Informative groups to address problem areas. Document that has been published: On HL7.org, via Resources > Work Groups, you can now find forms, A Work Group that, through its decision making practices, templates and process documenta- identifies a non-normative HL7 Protocol Specification tion to help you address PBS infrac- [§02.02] to be withdrawn shall initiate a project for that tions. Also, we’ve added a link to purpose and request that a Comment-only Ballot be under- the Excel PBS Metrics report on the taken to assess the impact of the withdrawal of the subject Work Groups ‘Reports’ link and the protocol specification. The content of said Comment-only Searchable Project Database tool. Ballot shall identify the subject protocol specification and request input on the decision to withdraw the document. Don Lloyd, PhD Helpful Hints The ballot instructions shall clearly state that the intent of Did you know that the steps for dis- the ballot is to assess the impact of the withdrawal of the continuing a project vary depending document; not to collect comments on the contents of the on whether the project is informa- subject protocol specification. tive or normative? Also, discontinuing a project should not be confused Should the TSC, considering the results of the Comment- with withdrawing a normative only ballot, support the withdrawal of the subject proto- standard or informative document col specification, a notice of withdrawal shall be pub- that has been published by HL7. lished in the HL7 eNews citing the date of withdrawal. If the document to be withdrawn has been registered with For projects that have not been ANSI as a Technical Report, the decision to withdraw Karen Van Hentenryck balloted or published (or never the document will be reported to ANSI for publication in been designated as informative or normative), all that is ANSI Standards Action. The proposed date of withdrawal required is an email to Dave Hamill, Director of the HL7 shall allow sufficient time to address any public com- Project Management Office ([email protected]), indicating ments that may be received. which project should be closed, the date that the work group passed the motion to close the project, and the rea- Section 14.14 of the HL7 Governance and Operations sons for closing the project. Manual (GOM) outlines the steps for discontinuing a Nor-

20 JANUARY 2012 mative (and DSTU) Standards project that has not been resides within the TSC’s File area (http://gforge.hl7.org/ published: gf/project/tsc/frs/?action=FrsReleaseBrowse&frs_pack- age_id=169). The TSC may discontinue a project involving a new HL7 Protocol Specification (§02.02) or revision to an existing As a reminder, the PBS reporting and dashboards reflect HL7 Protocol Specification (a standards project) if the the following criteria for each work group: initiating Work Group has been: 1. Idle Ballots – Items that haven’t balloted in a year, a) Unable to reach consensus necessary to bring the and are still “open” (haven’t successfully completed their ballot) HL7 Protocol Specification to normative ballot within 2. No Recon Package – Items that have not had a recon- a year of project initiation; or ciliation package posted b) Unable to successfully complete a normative ballot 3. Non-Advancing Ballots – Items that have gone and move the HL7 Protocol Specification to publica- through 3 or more ballots tion within a year of initiation of a normative ballot 4. Expired DSTUs – Expired DSTUs that have not pro- ceeded to normative or some other ballot level Given approval by three quarters of those in session when 5. Unpublished CMETs – CMETs that are finished the motion is addressed, a Work Group may petition the (passed by numbers and reconciliation) but unpub- TSC to discontinue a standards project regardless of its lished (waiting for the CMET clean-up work to be current status. The Work Group has the discretion to take completed by Andy Stechison and Dave Hamill) this action for whatever reason it deems appropriate. The 6. Unpublished Ballots – Items that are finished (passed TSC shall have the final decision on a request to discon- by numbers and reconciliation is complete) but unpublished (not in Normative Edition or on HL7 tinue a standards project. Standards page) 7. Projects in Project Insight that are behind more than Section 15.04.02 of the HL7 Governance and Operations 120 Days Manual (GOM) in regards to withdrawing a Normative 8. Projects in Project Insight with an ‘Unknown’ status standard that has received ANSI approval and been pub- 9. Work groups that do not have any 3-Year Plan items lished by HL7: in Project Insight

Upon a decision by the Work Group to withdraw an HL7 The PBS Metrics Report was created to support the HL7 ANS, either of its own volition or as a result of a Norma- Strategic Initiative to “streamline the HL7 standards devel- tive Ballot for reaffirmation, HL7 Headquarters, with the opment process.” It is intended to be a tool to assist work concurrence of the TSC, shall notify ANSI of the withdraw- groups with managing ballots, in addition to cleaning al action. The HL7 ANS shall be withdrawn concurrent up projects and old data. By reviewing the reports, work with an announcement in ANSI Standards Action. Any groups can identify potential issues before they get out of public comments regarding the withdrawal of an HL7 hand, as well as move items through balloting to a final document or standard state. ANS shall be reconciled under the normative process defined in §14. If you have any questions or comments, please direct them to any PBS Metrics team member: Dave Hamill (dha- Reports Link on HL7.org Work Group WebPages [email protected]), Lynn Laakso ([email protected]), Don Lloyd The PBS Metrics reporting and dashboards are easily ac- ([email protected]) and Karen Van Hentenryck (karenvan@ cessible via the Reports link on your work group’s HL7.org HL7.org). page. This link directs you to GForge, where the report

JANUARY 2012 21 Best Practices for HL7 Working Group Meetings (WGMs) By Margie Kennedy, PIC Co-Chair

Most of us have been in meetings where agenda in advance to allow par- Busy agendas are invariably disagreements or an energetic discussion ticipants to plan which meetings challenging; however, it is worth led by a few group members seem to (or parts of meetings) they need to remembering that WGMs are an take on a life of their own and con- attend. This also allows participants opportunity to address priority work sume formerly well-ordered meetings; to prepare any supporting or refer- items and issues. Several risks or where we feel our voice is not being ence materials they feel is necessary exist with agendas, including 1) heard or the democratic process is being to inform the discussions and work non-priority agenda items consum- abandoned. On rare occasions, meet- activities. And most importantly, it ing valuable face to face time, 2) ings can seem to spiral completely out allows participants to complete any under allocating time for significant of control, failing to conduct business last development to assigned work work item discussions and ballot properly or professionally, resulting in products for review at meetings. dispositions, and 3) losing focus missed opportunities to achieve our during spirited exchanges and al- goals, leaving participants feeling frus- 2. Assign Roles lowing discussions to continue too trated and disrespected. Ensure that co-chairs are providing long without effective resolution. support to appropriate activities ac- Time management practices are So, what makes a great HL7 meeting? cording to the Co-Chairs Handbook. essential, and this means keeping It’s more than simply getting the agenda This also means that minutes are a clear focus during discussions items covered in the allotted meeting being recorded and will be posted on the achievement of consensus time. It’s about making genuine progress in a timely manner with actions and resolution. It also means that on identified work items that positively and decisions correctly document- co-chairs need to develop agendas contribute to healthcare priorities. It’s ed. When necessary, refer to the with priorities in mind and rely on also as much about how we conduct Co-Chairs Handbook for elections Robert’s Rules of Order to manage meetings as the work we get done. HL7 of acting or interim co-chairs as speaking opportunities, prolonged International is built on the recognition necessary to ensure that work is debate, progression of work items, of volunteers’ expertise, contributions conducted efficiently. and time constraints. and commitment – where every volunteer is valued for the diverse expertise 3. Maintain Rules of Order and 5. Practice Democratic Process and perspective brought to the collective Decorum HL7 International values and de- efforts. The foundational rules of HL7 Section 3.11.2.3 of the Co-Chairs pends on involvement and support seek consensus among participants to Handbook provides links to Robert’s from all members to expand and achieve the best possible outcomes. The Rules of Order, which details the enhance the HL7 standard and the best meetings are those where we able to parliamentary procedures relevant overall success of the organiza- participate in discussions and activities in to conducting meetings. Although tion. To this end, co-chairs act as a manner that is respectful and empower- parliamentary proceedings may stewards of this mandate and are ing for all participants and effective for seem inconsequential compared accountable to employ democratic the goals of HL7 International. to the actual work content of your processes during WGM and regu- group, it is important to maintain lar meetings to ensure equity and The HL7 Co-Chairs Handbook provides consistent order, democratic oppor- fairness. Co-chairs can refer to guidance for all aspects of managing tunities for speaking to the issues, the Co-Chairs Handbook, Decision meetings and the various details of lead- and clear adherence to the meeting Making Practices, and Robert’s ership of a work group. Most co-chairs rule in order to achieve effective, Rules of Order for guidance on how will agree that applying even some of efficient, and professional meetings. to conduct meetings with effective the following best practices will enhance It is a fundamental expectation of democratic processes. your meetings and promote continued co-chairs that they will maintain positive relationships and advancement neutrality and conduct all meetings The Process Improvement Committee of your work items. in the spirit of Robert’s Rules of Or- (PIC) is available for questions and/or 1. Advance Preparation der, in alignment with HL7 Interna- guidance on meeting processes or the Advance preparation is more than tional values and principles. resources supporting co-chairs. simply showing up 10 minutes before your meeting commences. co-chairs need to distribute the 4. Time Management 22 JANUARY 2012 Six Questions to Consider About Merging a Continuity of Care Document

By Rob Brull, Product Manager, Corepoint Health; Certified HL7 CDA Specialist Rob Brull

Several questions can arise when con- able attachment draws a clear distinc- 5.Is someone responsible if the data is sidering whether to parse the data of tion as to what information was entered not merged and a bad decision is made a Continuity of Care (CCD) document in-house, and what is relayed from an because of the lack of data? from a remote facility and merge it outside source. If the CCD is parsed and into the local EHR. Health Information merged, it would be preferable from the Clinical decision support systems will Exchanges(HIEs) are spurring increased physician’s point-of-view to have this data not work if the data is not in the EHR. emphasis on the use of CCD documents clearly distinguished as received from an What if a medication interaction was not to exchange information among facilities, outside source with the ability to identify flagged because the medication section so it would be ideal to have consistent and contact that source. of a CCD was not imported into the EMR, practices regarding the merging of the and that interaction resulted in harm to received data into the existing EHR. With 3.What audit trail exists for the data? the patient? the CCD seen as the vehicle for EHR to EHR communication, the questions The ONC has specific guidelines for audit Clinical decision support systems and below raise some concerns as to how this tracking in its EHR Certification process. quality-driven analytics are important vehicle should be utilized. But how do those audit trail standards tools in the changing healthcare land- apply to imported data? A CCD does not scape. Level 3 CCD data, in the form of 1.Is having the CCD available as an include all the details about who en- coded entries, support the use of these attachment sufficient? tered every entry, and whether the entry tools, which aim to provide better patient was ever edited. From a legal perspec- care through the use of more available With some EHR implementations, the re- tive, some states also have specific laws data. The decision to only use the CCD ceiving system may not be able to support pertaining to re-disclosure. These laws in a human readable format, rather than the import of the CCD. Or, the EHR vendor define how imported information must be importing the data, directly impacts the may chose to optionally import only some tracked and protected. effectiveness of the tools. of the data, such as allergies and medica- 6.What is best for patient care? tions, but not the rest of the data. The When data is imported, the EHR system provider may also be given the option to should be as detailed as possible about the The final question is undoubtedly the select what data is imported during the source of all the data. The CCD audit trail most important. The quality of care for initial implementation of the EHR system. is limited to the participant information the patient should ultimately be the driv- included in the header of the document. At ing force in whether the CCD is imported Having a human readable CCD available a minimum, this participant information into the receiving EHR system. On one to the physician is obviously preferable to must be tagged to each entry as it is parsed hand, if the imported data simply clouds not having any data available at all. But is and merged with existing data. the existing data because of poor recon- simply having the human readable CCD ciliation or a failure to clearly indicate sufficient? It may be sufficient in some 4.What if there is conflicting data? the source, then the “easy” approach of cases, but it is definitely not optimal. With simply making a human readable format the use of clinical decision support systems The reconciliation of the data can be a would be superior. But, given the capabil- and quality of care analytics, having level 3 difficult routine for vendors to implement ity to cleanly import the data and clearly coded entries imported into the EHR is the as part of the process for importing CCD mark its source, there is little doubt that only way to take advantage of such health- data into existing EHR data. Sorting out importing and merging data would lead to care tools that utilize the stored data. duplicate data is the first logical step, but superior clinical outcomes. resolving conflicting data or displaying it 2.Who is liable for ensuring that the in an effective manner can be a difficult Forget the complexity of the CDA format data is correct? task to perform. and the difficulties of parsing, mapping, and reconciliation. The politics behind Physicians can be hesitant to accept other At a minimum, if the resolution of the actually importing the data for real pa- provider’s data into their EHR because conflict cannot be determined, the physi- tient care is the big hurdle that needs to they assume they will become liable for it. cian must be made aware of the conflict be overcome. Issues behind liability and This opens a large legal question as to who so they can do their own analysis of the re-disclosure need to be addressed so the is responsible if the patient is treated incor- situation. Ideally, during import an alert tools that enable a higher quality of care, rectly based on bad data that was not even would be sent to the staff so the patient, based on coded data, can be utilized to collected by the physician’s medical staff. and/or responsible parties, could be their full extent. Maybe future stages of Receiving providers do not like the idea of contacted to ensure the correct data is Meaningful Use will provide the guidance. supporting the imported data because they represented in the system. This puts a only truly trust what was directly input large burden on the EHR vendor to ac- Rob has guided Corepoint Health through into their EHR by their staff. commodate a unique workflow that can the ONC EHR certification process for be utilized for resolution. Meaningful Use, becoming the first inte- Separating the CCD as a human read- gration engine to be certified. JANUARY 2012 23 Where Are All The Standards? Austin Kreisler, Chair, HL7 Technical Steering Committee; Technical Fellow, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC)

Austin Kreisler

Perhaps the biggest process change Another significant part of the backlog is will resume in the future. Alternately, introduced by the Technical Steering due to failure to close projects once they the reason may just be that no one has Committee (TSC) is the project scope ap- reach an end state. There are varieties of spent the small amount of time neces- proval process. As an organization, we reasons projects are not being closed or sary to shut the project down. Regardless have become good at creating new proj- completed, including: of the reason, these stagnant projects ects, most of which focus on developing are a problem from the HL7 organiza- new standards. On the other hand, we • Failing to request publication of a tion perspective. HL7 notifies ANSI that are much slower on balloting and pub- standard HL7 has initiated a project to develop a lishing new standards as well as closing • Abandoned projects kept on the standard based on the approved project out the projects related to developing books scope statement. If HL7 is no longer pur- those standards. The table below shows • Projects kept active in anticipation suing development of the standard, HL7 counts of current active projects. of subsequent release of a standard has an obligation to report that to ANSI. The TSC has developed a process for Active Projects Count The first two items are examples of work groups to shut down projects and Ballot – Normative 56 items work groups need to wrap up notify ANSI that a proposed standard is Ballot – Informative 45 while the third (keeping a project active withdrawn (see template at http://www. Ballot – DSTU 68 for further releases) is something on hl7.org/documentcenter/public/member- Ballot – Comment Only 6 which the TSC will be developing guid- ship/ANSI_proposal_withdrawal.doc). Other 66 ance for work groups. HL7 does have a mechanism for preserv- Total 241 ing any content developed as part of the Failing to request publication of a project so that it will remain available for During the most recent trimester (May standard or document that completes further development. HL7’s GForge and – September) the TSC approved 20 new balloting is like stopping just short of the SVN repository are available to any work projects. The TSC also approved one finish line and losing the race. The proj- group to archive old content, as well as project withdrawal, three publication ect team has worked hard on develop- help actively manage current content. requests and two standards withdrawals. ing the standard or document including The TSC strongly recommends work Assuming each publication request and developing content, taking it through groups take advantage of these resources. standards withdrawal equate with the one or more rounds of balloting, doing completion of a project, we have a net ballot reconciliation, etc. The reward Right now, following through on the gain of 14 projects. Of the total active at the end of that process is seeing the two items above are voluntary for work projects above, 175 (73%) are focused standard or document published and groups. Starting in January 2012, the on balloting content. Assuming the 20 become available for HL7 members to TSC and the steering divisions, as part new projects follow the same pattern as implement. We now have a formal pro- of the project scope approval process, the overall population of active projects, cess for requesting publication (see tem- will start looking at the work groups 14 of the new projects focus on content plate at http://www.hl7.org/permalink/ current set of projects to see if a work for ballot. Clearly, in the past trimester, ?PublicationRequestTemplate). Work group has the capacity to handle the we had a net growth of projects focused groups that believe they have completed new project. Work groups carrying ac- on balloting content (and presumably balloting of content and are ready to tive projects that for whatever reason development of a standard). Although have that content published should fol- are no longer active, will probably be we do not have the statistics right now, low through on this publication request asked to cleanup that backlog of old this growth in projects has been going step. Part of the TSC guidance managing projects. Work groups are strongly on since we started the project scope subsequent releases of a standard will encouraged to start reviewing their approval process. The implication is include requirements around publishing existing projects, requesting publica- clear; the work of developing standards the previous release before initiating bal- tion for those that qualify and shutting is growing. loting on a new release. down those that are no longer being pursued. To help work groups with One complaint the TSC has from work Sometimes project stakeholders change that review, HL7 staff has developed a groups is they do not have enough peo- their minds regarding development of a number of reports to help work groups ple to work on all the projects they have standard. There are various reasons why manage their projects. These reports on their plates. Obviously, there is a stakeholders stop supporting standards are collectively known as PBS (Project, disconnect between the amount of work projects, and work groups need to Ballot, Standards) Metrics. A summary HL7 is taking on and the number of identify when it happens and respond to PBS Metric spreadsheet is available at individuals needed to work on projects. the situation. When this happens, work http://gforge.hl7.org/gf/project/tsc/ Effectively, this means HL7 is developing groups are often reluctant to shutdown frs/?action=FrsReleaseBrowse&frs_pack- a backlog of projects. A large part of the the project. This reluctance may be due age_id=169. backlog is due to a lack of individuals to to a desire to preserve content already do the work of developing a standard. completed, often in hopes that work continued on next page 24 JANUARY 2012 Pharmacy in Paris: First Joint Meeting of HL7

Tom de Jong and IHE Work Groups By Tom de Jong, Co-Chair, HL7 Pharmacy Work Group

HL7 and IHE have always had a lot in common, since both or- Since then, the ganizations aim to provide standards for an efficient exchange groups have stayed of healthcare information. The main difference is in degree of in touch with each freedom, with IHE profiles corresponding to a strict workflow other (partly be- or architecture, often building on more universal HL7 stan- cause some mem- dards (Version 2 or Version 3). bers were attending both). But as we Even though their products are so closely connected, HL7 and were both gearing IHE work groups have mostly operated separately from each up for new projects, it became clear there was a real danger other. When IHE worked on a profile that applied a pre-exist- of working on the same topics without keeping each other ing HL7 standard, this wasn’t really an issue. However, it’s a synchronized. When the Pharmacy WG was planning an out- different story when goals and schedules overlap, leading to of-cycle (OOC) meeting to focus on some of these new work the danger of re-inventing the wheel. items, the WG decided to try and schedule it to coincide with the already scheduled IHE face-to-face meeting in order for the The HL7 Pharmacy Work Group (WG) has been active for two groups to have some shared meeting time. many years now, maintaining the domain-specific materials for both Version 2 and Version 3. Like most other domain-specific The IHE Pharmacy had its face-to-face meeting on October 4-5 groups the focus in the Pharmacy Work Group was on the de- and the HL7 Pharmacy WG held its OOC meeting on October velopment of Version 3 messages. Clinical Document Architec- 5-7, both generously hosted by the organization of French ture (CDA) documents dealing with the same type of content hospital pharmacists (Phast) in their offices in Paris. The were specified elsewhere, leading to parallel standards. key aspect was the overlapping day, with a joint meeting on October 5, hosted by IHE Pharmacy. In addition to the great A few years ago, a group of mostly European stakehold- synergy that resulted from simply being in the same room ers formed IHE Pharmacy, aiming to create implementation together, there were also quite a few people who chose to visit profiles for both community and hospital workflows. I was the meeting of the ‘other’ group. present at their first meeting in Brussels, where I represented the HL7 Pharmacy Work Group and introduced the existing While concrete progress was made on a number of hot top- materials. IHE then decided which standards to build on. ics, I believe the most essential virtue of this meeting was to remove the ‘barrier’ that many people perceived between the For the hospital profile (HMW), the choice was made to apply two groups. Both teams have knowledgeable people working HL7 Version 2.5. A specific workflow, with corresponding to improve healthcare interoperability. We will be more active actors, was described using a restriction on existing Version 2 in each other’s group and plan to meet again next year. For the messages and segments. For the community profile (CMPD), Pharmacy domain, it should now be easier to share informa- there was a strong connection with the epSOS project in Eu- tion, discuss common solutions, and provide more harmo- rope, based on a CCD-style CDA template. nized results.

Where Are All the Standards? continued from previous page

On the HL7 website, on each of the work standards are on track in development. we need to pay closer attention to groups web page, there is a Report link Some of the standards are nearly com- managing the organization’s workload (towards the end of the line directly pleted, but the sponsoring work group so we are not overburdening our vol- below the work group name) that has a has not taken the final steps to com- unteers with unnecessary work, while variety of reports available to help work plete release of the standard. A few of clearly communicating with those groups manage their projects and ballots. those standards simply are not going to outside the HL7 organization regard- HL7 members are encouraged to review be completed, and work groups need to ing what standards HL7 is developing. these reports and bring questions to the recognize the situations and shut down Starting a project is also an obligation work groups you participate in regarding the associated projects. to bring the project to an endpoint. We issues identified in these reports. have become good at starting projects; In summary, the fact that HL7 has a we now need to work on closing the So where are all the standards? As growing number of projects and stan- loop and ending projects. represented by projects, many of the dards to develop is great. It does mean

JANUARY 2012 25 Ten Years of Patient Care Provision in The Netherlands Michael Tan By Michael Tan, Product Manager, NICTIZ; Kai Heitmann, MD, Chair, HL7 Germany; and William Goossen, RN, PhD, Co-Chair, HL7 Patient Care Work Group

What is Patient Care Provision? Provision, then all other types of care This pattern of clini- If you browse through the older ver- could also be supported by this model. cal statements is in- sions of the normative edition of HL7 This resulted in Nictiz and the CVA creasingly reflected Version 3 (V3), in the classification of (cerebrovascular attack) organization in the various Universal domains you will find the supporting the integrated care of stroke products of HL7. It information necessary to communicate services with Care Provision. is basically the same between several systems in healthcare. selection that is Some of the information found there in- After the first experimental models of used for the Clinical cludes administrative sets for patients, Care Provision in Perinatology and CVA, Document Archi- Kai Heitmann, MD financial administration, and also the the model was also used for messages tecture (CDA) and more order oriented exchange such as for general practitioner (GP) referrals to the Dutch Primary pharmacy or laboratory. mental health care. Unfortunately, the Care model. We say modeling for GPs took a different path. basically because An important chapter is grouped under The starting point for modeling in HL7 in principle it is the the name of Care Provision. It could V3 began with the GP to GP model, an same mechanism also be referred to as “care module” and English model for communication be- it refers to, but is collection of communication possibili- tween GPs. When the HL7 experts could because relation- ties in which medical care is at the core. not solve the SOAP (subjective, objective, ships are established This care module is the communication assessment and plan) methodology and within a version, tool which stands closest to the care pro- structure of episodes in these models, differences may cess of the patient and the care provider. they began to set up their own models. arise. Thus CDA William Goossen. RN, PhD The Care Provision models are multi- Release 2 references purpose and can be used for: This became the Primary Care model. Version 2.7 of the HL7 RIM and the asso- There were many similarities between ciated clinical statement choice box and • Referrals or transfer of care the models, thus we wondered if they data types. That model of Care Provision • Consultation with specialists could be consolidated. The stakehold- is still evolving. • Request to third parties ers in primary care have now decided to • Queries on care data build the Primary Care model and gradu- The Patient Care Provision model was • Report of findings ally switch to the Care Provision model submitted for ballot in 2006 and received • Submission of a Care plan or pass of HL7 V3. The Primary Care model is Draft Standard for Trial Use (DSTU) sta- on (safety, health and welfare) plan currently in use by 95% of the GP locum tus in 2007. This status means that the • Passing on (of parts) medical re- practices in The Netherlands and is able specification is “frozen” for a period of cords (care file) to process the query and response of the two years, during which time the health- professional summary of the GP. The care IT industry can verify its usability. Now, ten years after the creation of the switch to the Care Provision model will, The DSTU status was extended in 2009 first models, we can reflect on the de- therefore, be gradually introduced. for another two years, which allowed for velopments and implementations of the more information to be gathered. In 2010, Care Provision model; particularly the International Developments the TSC conducted an evaluation of Care experience in The Netherlands. Meanwhile, the international community Provision internationally, which showed engaged in consolidating the Care Provi- its usefulness in IHE and in applications In The Beginning sion model. The tools for the models used in Ontario. However, changes are also required according to the users of Despite the problems in the tools during from Visio to generate XML schemas the Care Provision models. The DSTU its infancy, an HL7 team of HL7 Neth- were gradually improved, and HL7 ex- status has ended now, but the Patient erlands spent much time and energy perts like Kai Heitmann and Gerrit Boers Care Work Group is currently preparing understanding HL7 Version 3 (V3). A needed to intervene less. the model for normative ballot. pilot for modeling the midwife chain (the Perinatology) was commissioned by One important step is the formation of Vizi, the predecessor of Nictiz in 2000. the Care Statement choice box. This Applications in The Perinatal chain is obviously very selection box allows different types (sup- The Netherlands special, because it concerns not only the porting) of information to be sent along In The Netherlands, a broad deployment pregnant patient, but sometimes the fe- with the care message. These are data of the message set of Care Provision was tus or the spouse of the patient as well. objects, in which the object type deter- set up in the perinatology project called The HL7 team thought that if the chain mines what data elements are required Spirit. In this project, midwife systems of perinatal could be modeled with Care to be sent. communicate with systems of public continued on next page 26 JANUARY 2012 health and scientific institutions for Care Coordination from IHE was recently implemented an existing model may screening purposes and national registra- formed to give substance to patient care likely have a compatibility issue. tion. The pregnant patient’s fetus could coordination. If this group utilizes the be tested for Down’s syndrome, Spina experiences and existing specifications of The scope of topics covered by Patient Bifida and infectious diseases. The Care Care Provision, as has already been done Care expands to a broad variety of topics, Provision messages were developed by six in the international profile, then it would ranging from Care Plan to allergies. Thus, vendors in their IT systems. reinforce their initiatives mutually. the coordination and manageability of the products under Patient Care became Care Provision is used Youth Health Care The Road Ahead increasingly difficult. The consolidation of (YHC). YHC is the regular preventive pub- Is the future of Care Provision ensured? parts under Patient Care into a normative lic care that every child experiences until Internationally, there is certainly work standard would help. The plan is to pres- his 19th year. All vaccinations, observa- to be done. The DSTU term for Patient ent the material for the January 2012 bal- tions of growth, and development are Care provision may not be renewed. It is, lot. The ballot will hopefully be discussed stored in the child health record. The first therefore, time to convert Care Provi- during the Working Group Meeting in San application of the Care Provision message sion to normative status. The collective Antonio, TX. Ten years after the advent is a file transfer when a child moves from memory of an HL7 global community of Patient Care we finally can talk about a one place to another. is fluid and does not stand riveted. normative standard. Unfortunately, new players, in their Care Provision models could also be used enthusiasm, reinvent the wheel time and Literature by certifying institutions for the indexing time again. Discussions on diagnoses, Goossen WT, MJ Jonker, Heitmann KU, of assisted households because of illness conditions and groupings of data seem to Jongeneel-de Haas IC, de Jong T, van der or disability. Care Provision is being used cycle every four years, which is not bad, Slikke JW, BL Kabbes. (2003). Electronic and its use is only expected to increase, if the ultimate conclusion is that a wheel patient records: domain message informa- especially if IHE Netherlands is also active already exists. But, if that conclusion is tion model perinatology. Int J Med Inf. in this field. A working group for Patient not reached, countries that have already 2003: 70 (2-3) :265-76. 2011 Asia-Pacific HL7 Conference on Health Information Standards By Yu-Ting Yeh, Secretary General of HL7 Taiwan; PhD Candidate of Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan

Medical informatics innovations are con- in Taipei, Taiwan. The main theme was “Roadmap to Future fronting the advancing evolution with di- eHealth via Health Informatics Standards”. Activities during the Yu-Ting Yeh verse solutions to improve the healthcare APHC 201 included several tutorials on the Clinical Document care quality, promote patient safety, and Architecture (CDA), an Integrating the Healthcare Network support effective use of healthcare re- (IHE) character standard forum, invited talks, paper presenta- sources. In recent years, the Taiwan Government has vigorously tion sessions and an extended industrial exhibition, as well as promoted the implementation of electronic medical records thematic round tables. It also presented the demonstration of (EHRs) and supported the international standards for system in- Electronic Medical Record (EMR) exchange center and applica- teroperability and data exchange across the boundaries of hos- tion in IHE. Over 200 participants attended from the United pitals to facilitate meaningful use of the EHR. However, health States, Japan, Australia, Philippines, Singapore, India, Indone- policy makers, medical industry, healthcare service systems and sia, Kirghizia and Taiwan. Twenty-four papers were delivered patients face increasingly complex challenges in integration of in various areas. Based on successful experiences in the past such environments to support seamless continuity of care. HL7 decade, the outcome of the APHC 2011 brought important key Taiwan has long provided platforms for research collaboration ingredients that had profound impact to medical informatics and knowledge sharing among different parties. The Asia-Pa- field in the Asia-Pacific region. cific HL7 Conference on Health Information Standards (APHC) is one of the most important platforms hosted by HL7 Taiwan 1. APHC 2011 provided varied tutorials to nurture the out- in the Asia Pacific region. standing talents of the global community. 2. APHC 2011 disclosed the latest technologies, applications HL7 Taiwan has hosted the APHC annually since 2002. It is and operations of ehealth implementation and evaluation intended to bring policy makers, industry experts, researchers to encourage HL7 standards adoption in Asia region. and consumers in medical informatics together for facilitating 3. It represented an opportunity for ehealth policy & develop- adoption of ehealth and promoting better and more efficient ment in Asian countries, as well as experience exchange healthcare services. and knowledge sharing to promote regional collaboration in Asia. In 2011, the 10th Asia-Pacific HL7 Conference on Health In- formation Standards (APHC 2011) was held on August 26-27 JANUARY 2012 27 Congratulations ttttttttttttttttttttt To the following people who passed the HL7 Certification Exams

Certified HL7 V2.5/2.6 Chapter September 24, 2011 HL7 India Rakesh Kriplani 2 Control Specialist Chaitra Nagesh Kuppahally September 24, 2011 Bhargava L Nanjappa Rahul D. Ajmera June 21, 2011 Vikram Singh Panwar Nitin Ambare Deborah Anderson Ashish Raj Snehal Belwalkar Kristen E. Metzger Shyamanand Rath Renuka Lakkireddy Kingsley Weaver Pramod K Sahoo Ashish Seth Mamata Sethi July 14, 2011 Binay Kumar Singh HL7 Taiwan Sandra M. Carter Shanthi William Luissette C. Figueroa August 26, 2011 Madhavi Guda September 24, 2011 Chih-Chao Chang Robert E. Knight Sarita S Akolkar Hung-Kuan Chen Pallavi Mishra Glenn D’Acosta Wei-Chen Chen Troy D. Murray Rohan G Gaitonde Chir-Chang Huang Erika M. O’Neill Harit Gala Ean-Wen Huang Eli W. Price Abhayraj Gupta Hui-Chen Huang Beth G. Seip Pritesh M Keniya Yu-Chung Lai Jay Wilson Arvind S Kshirsagar Siang-Hao Lee Amey A Parab I-Chun Lin September 15, 2011 Nihar S Parikh Chia-Chen Wu Robert M. Harlan Ulhas Y Pawar Alexander Henket Suzy Hoffman HL7 Spain Certified HL7 Version 3 RIM Isabella Siagian Specialist Gramen V. Tontchev July 14, 2011 Cynthia A. Watson Felipe Aldea Roldán July 14, 2011 Iván García Santamaría Chad Peterson October 5, 2011 Javier Gran Gimenez Miguel Agustin Ruiz Velasco S Kathiresan Annamalai Juan Pablo Martínez Bartuilli Tan Hooi Hoon HL7 Canada Nordiana Jupiri October 5, 2011 Muhammad Nur Hanif Jusoh Covadonga Nayra Álvarez Fernández September 12, 2011 Eye Gee Kua Laura de la Fuente Nevado Qionghua (Joanne) Yang Kay Han Ng Jorge Fernández Carlavilla Ismail Noor Kamila Enrique Maldonado Belmonte HL7 India How Lun Par Elena Pinilla García Hafizatul Azwa Salleh Domingo Sánchez Ruiz September 24, 2011 Klaus Veil Shujah Das Gupta Certified HL7 CDA Specialist Upendra Sisodia HL7 Canada July 14, 2011 Rashmi Nair Joshua P. Illian Pranita Naik August 12, 2011 Kunnal Mardia Frederic Laroche Sina Madani Linda J. Michaelsen Janak P Ramani Ajaya Kumar Mohanty August 30, 2011 Charley B. Ooley Irfan Qureshi Andrew P. Stechishin Yang Yonghon HL7 Pakistan HL7 India September 15, 2011 August 26, 2011 James Chan Mehtab Alam Khurshid August 27, 2011 Maqbool Hussain Mahesh K. Anjani Cody E. Johansen Scott M. Robertson Yasar Khan Rahul Bansal Shagufta Umer Rajesh Jambukia Line A. Saele Kenneth J. Salyards Arunkumar K. M. Jayakumar HL7 Spain Gaurav P. Pathak September 22, 2011 Dipak Patil October 5, 2011 Shekhar S. Patil Bobbie J. Bridges Mindy H. Durrance Juana Caldentey Ferrer Nilap Shah Javier Olivares Sánchez Vipin K Shrotriya Joseph Esquibel Kundan Singh Bhavesh N. Gandhi Dinesh G. Sunwani Lisa J. Macdonald Dhaval V. Upadhyaya Sylvia Shuler ttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt 28 JANUARY 2012 HL7 Benefactors as of December 12, 2011

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

US Department of Defense Military Health System

HL7 Croatia Welcomes New Chair

Miroslav Koncar, PhD, is employed by Oracle Corporation in the position of Busi- ness Development Director for Healthcare Industry, covering the region of East and Central Europe, Middle East and Africa. He has been active in HL7 for almost 10 years now, previously serving two consecutive terms as the Technical Co-Chair of the International Council. He has been an active contributor to HL7 developments in Croatia and internationally, focusing on infrastructure, transport technologies and messaging parts of the standard. Apart from working for Oracle, Miroslav is an active member of the professional community, by representing Oracle in various eHealth think tanks and European-wide projects. In respect to his scientific career, Miroslav holds a PhD in the medical informatics area, and most recently has been elected as the Honorary Associate Professor at the Faculty of Electrical Engineer- ing and Computing in Zagreb, Croatia, where he teaches Biomedical Engineering to Miroslav Koncar, PhD undergraduate students during their final year of studies. He is the author of over 25 scientific and expert papers in this domain.

JANUARY 2012 29 Affiliate Contacts

HL7 Argentina HL7 Czech Republic HL7 Korea HL7 Singapore Diego Kaminker Libor Seidl Byoung-Kee Yi, PhD Colleen Brooks Phone: +54-11-4781-2898 Phone: +420-775-387691 Phone: +82 234101944 Phone: +65-68181246 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] HL7 Australia HL7 Finland HL7 Luxembourg Richard Dixon Hughes Juha Mykkanen, PhD Stefan Benzschawel HL7 Spain Email: [email protected] Phone: +358-403552824 Phone: +352-425-991-889 Carlos Gallego Perez HL7 Austria Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Phone: +34-93-693-18-03 Stefan Sabutsch Email: [email protected] Phone: +43-664-3132505 HL7 France HL7 New Zealand Email: [email protected] Nicolas Canu David Hay HL7 Sweden Phone: +33 02-35-60-41-97 Phone: +64-9-638-9286 Gustav Alvfeldt HL7 Brazil Email: [email protected] Email: Phone: +46 08-123-13-117 Marivan Santiago Abrahao [email protected] Email: [email protected] Phone: +55-11-3045-3045 HL7 Germany Email: [email protected] Kai Heitmann, MD HL7 Norway HL7 Switzerland Phone: +49-172-2660814 Espen Moeller Beat Heggli HL7 Canada Email: [email protected] Phone: +47 97008186 Phone: +41-1-806-1164 Michael van Campen Email: [email protected] Email: Phone: +1 416-595-3448 Email: Michael.vanCampen HL7 Greece [email protected] @GPinformatics.com Alexander Berler, PhD HL7 Pakistan Phone: +30-2111001691 Dr. Hafiz Farooq Ahmad HL7 Taiwan HL7 Chile Email: [email protected] Phone: +92 51-90852155 Chien-Tsai Liu, PhD Sergio Konig Email: [email protected] Phone: +886-2-25526990 Phone: +56-2-7697996 HL7 Hong Kong Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Chung Ping Ho HL7 Puerto Rico Phone: +852 34883762 Julio Cajigas HL7 The Netherlands HL7 China Email: [email protected] Phone: +1 787-805-0505 x6003 Robert Stegwee, MSc, PhD Prof. Baoluo Li Email: [email protected] Phone: +31-30-689-2730 Phone: +86-010-65815129 HL7 India Email: Email: [email protected] Supten Sarbadhikari, MBBS, HL7 Romania [email protected] HL7 Colombia PhD Florica Moldoveanu, PhD Fernando A. Portilla Email: [email protected] Phone: +40-21-4115781 HL7 Turkey Phone: +57-2-5552334 x241 Email: florica.moldoveanu Ergin Soysal Email: [email protected] HL7 Italy @rdslink.ro Email: [email protected] Stefano Lotti HL7 Croatia Phone: +39-06-42160685 HL7 Russia HL7 UK Miroslav Koncar Email: [email protected] Tatyana Zarubina MD, PhD Philip Scott, PhD Phone: +385-99-321-2253 Phone: +007-495-434-55-82 Phone: +44 8700-112-866 Email: HL7 Japan Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] [email protected] Michio Kimura, MD, PhD Phone: +81-3-3506-8010 HL7 Uruguay Email: Selene Indarte [email protected] Phone: +5985-711-0711 Email: [email protected] 30 JANUARY 2012 HL7 ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERS Benefactors eGeeks, LLC CalOptima NATO Consultation, Command and Control Abbott eHealth Workflow Analytics, LLC CDISC Agency Accenture Emergint Technologies, Inc. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/ New Mexico Department of Health Allscripts Equinoxys CDC New York State Department of Health Booz Allen Hamilton Evolvent Technologies Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services NICTIZ Nat.ICT.Inst.Healthc.Netherlands Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/ FEI.com College of Healthcare Information Mgmt. NIH/CC CDC Forward Advantage, Inc. Executives NIH/Department of Clinical Research Duke Translational Medicine Institute Gartner Colorado Regional Health Information Informatics Epic Gensa Corporation Organization North Coast HIE European Medicines Agency Gordon Point Informatics Ltd. Comm of Mass Department of Public Health OA-ITSD - Department of Mental Health Food and Drug Administration GSI Health, LLC CompDrug Oak Ridge Associated Universities GE Healthcare IT Guidewire Architecture Contra Costa County Health Services Office of the National Coordinator for GlaxoSmithKline Healthcare Data Assets COPE Community Services,Inc Health IT Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) Healthcare Integration Technologies Delta Dental Plans Association Ohio Department of Health IBM HealthVectors Department of Computer Science, Aarhus Oklahoma State Department of Health Intel Corporation, Digital Health Group HIMAP University Pennsylvania Dept of Health-Bureau of InterSystems HLN Consulting, LLC Department of Developmental Services Information Kaiser Permanente Hubbert Systems Consulting Department of Health Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Agency Lockheed Martin Lantana Consulting Group Department of Human-Computer Interaction Phast McKesson Provider Technologies LMI DGS, Commonwealth of Virginia Primary Care Information Project, NYC Dept Microsoft Corporation Lockheed Martin Duke Translational Medicine Institute Health NHS Connecting for Health Mainstream Health, Inc. ECRI Institute Public Health Data Standards Consortium NICTIZ Nat.ICT.Inst.Healthc.Netherlands Matricis Informatique Inc. Emory University, Research and Health Quality Partners of Rhode Island Novartis MD Informatics, LLC Sciences IT Region Syddanmark Oracle Corporation - Healthcare MedQuist, Inc. Estonian eHealth Foundation RTI International Partners HealthCare System, Inc. Medtronic European Medicines Agency SAFE-BioPharma Assn Pfizer Inc. Multimodal Technologies, Inc. Food and Drug Administration SAMHSA Philips Healthcare MxSecure Georgia Department of Public Health SC Dept. of Health & Environmental Control Quest Diagnostics, Incorporated newMentor Georgia Medical Care Foundation HS Siemens Healthcare Ockham Information Services LLC Georgia Tech Research Institute Social Security Administration Thomson Reuters Octagon Research Solutions, Inc. Health Research Inc. State Hygienic Laboratory at University of US Department of Defense, Military Health OTech, Inc. HIMSS Iowa System PFT LLC Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia State of Hawaii Department of Health US Department of Veterans Affairs Professional Laboratory Management, Inc. ICCBBA, Inc. State of Montana DPHHS Ray Heath, LLC Illinois Department of Public Health Tennessee Department of Health Supporters Rob Savage Consulting Illinois Office of Health Information Texas Department of State Health Services AEGIS.net, Inc. SabiaNet Inc Technology - Lab Beeler Consulting LLC SEC Associates, Inc. Indian Health Service Texas Health and Human Services Corepoint Health Shafarman Consulting Indiana Health Information Exchange Commission Crescendo Systems Corporation Strategic Solutions Group, LLC Indiana State Department of Health The Joint Commission iNTERFACEWARE, Inc. The Diebold Company of Canada Interior Health Authority The MITRE Corporation LINK Medical Computing, Inc. The Law Office of Jeffrey Chang PLLC Iowa Foundation for Medical Care U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Medicity, Inc. The St. John Group, LLC IVD Industry Connectivity Consortium U.S. Department of Health & Human MediSwitch (Pty)Ltd True Process Inc. Kansas Department of Health & Environment Services Mediture Virginia Riehl Kyungpook National Univ. MIPTH University HealthSystem Consortium Orego Anesthesiology Group, PC Westat L.A. County Dept of Public Health University of AL at Birmingham Socrates Healthcare Ltd. Wovenware LA County Probation Department University of Kansas Medical Center LCF Research University of Minnesota Consultants General Interest Maine Center for Disease Control and University of Texas Medical Branch at 3rd Millennium, Inc. Advanced Medical Technology Association Prevention Galveston Accenture (AdvaMed) Medical Research Council USDA APHIS VS CIO AHIS - St. John Providence Health Adventist Health Medical University of South Carolina Utah Department of Health Anakam Identity Services, Equifax Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Michigan Department of Community Health Utah Health Information Network Blackbird Solutions, Inc. Alabama Department of Public Health Lab Utah State Developmental Center Booz Allen Hamilton Alliance for Pediatric Quality Michigan Public Health Institute Virginia Information Technologies Agency CAL2CAL Corporation American Assoc. of Veterinary Lab Michigan State University Washington State Department of Health Cambria Solutions, Inc. Diagnosticians Ministry of Health - Slovenia Wayne State University School of Medicine Canon U.S.A., Inc. American College of Radiology Minnesota Department of Health WEST WIRELESS HEALTH INSTITUTE CentriHealth American College of Surgeons, NTDB Missouri Department of Health & Senior WNY HEALTHeLINK Chong Qing TJPAN Inc American Dietetic Association Services WorldVistA College of American Pathologists American Health Information Management N.A.A.C.C.R. CSG Association NANDA International Payers CTS American Medical Association National Association of Dental Plans American Imaging Management Dapasoft Inc. AORN National Center for Health Statistics/CDC Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama Dell Services AZ Department of Health Services National Council for Prescription Drug Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Deloitte Consulting LLP Blue Cross Blue Shield Association Programs Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina Diagnostic Radiology and Oncology Services CA Department of Public Health National Institute of Standards and CIGNA Eastern Informatics, Inc. Cabinet for Health and Family Services Technology CompliantDRG Edifecs, Inc. California Department of Health Care National Library of Medicine Health Care Service Corporation Edmond Scientific Services National Marrow Donor Program Highmark, Inc. California HealthCare Foundation National Quality Forum Magellan Health Services JANUARY 2012 31 HL7 ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERS, continued

MedSolutions, Inc. Life Labs ADP AdvancedMD, Inc. Computrition, Inc. Premera Blue Cross Loyola University Health System Advent InfoSystems LLC COMS Interactive, LLC TriWest Healthcare Alliance Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital AEGIS.net, Inc. ConexSys, Inc. UnitedHealth Group Lux Med Aequor Technologies, Inc. Consilience Software Wellpoint, Inc. Mayo Clinic Affiliated Computer Services, Inc. Core Sound Imaging, Inc. Wisconsin Physicians Service Ins. Corp. MedStar Health Information Systems Affiliated Computer Services, Inc., a Xerox Corepoint Health Meridian Health Company Cortex Medical Management Systems, Inc. Pharmacy Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Agilex Technologies Covisint Bristol-Myers Squibb MultiCare Health System Alert Life Sciences Computing, Inc. CPCHS Eli Lilly and Company National Cancer Institute Center for Allscripts Crescendo Systems Corporation GlaxoSmithKline Bioinformatic AlphaCM, Inc CS STARS, LLC. Merck & Co. Inc. New York-Presbyterian Hospital AlphaGlobal-IT CSAM International AS Novartis NHS Connecting for Health Altos Solutions, Inc CSC Healthcare Pfizer Inc. Oregon Providence Health & Service Altova GmbH CTIS, Inc. Pharmaxo Pharmacy Service Partners HealthCare System, Inc. American Data Curaspan Healthgroup, Inc. Pathology Associates Medical American Health Care Software Cybernius Medical Ltd. Providers Laboratories American HealthTech, Inc. Cyrus-XP LLC Advanced Biological Laboratories (ABL) Patient First AmerisourceBergen Specialty Group Dansk Medicinsk Datacenter ApS SA Quest Diagnostics, Incorporated Amtelco Darena Solutions LLC Advantage Dental Rady Children’s Hospital and Health Anasazi Software, Inc. Dataflo Consulting Akron General Medical Center Center Angel Systems, Inc. Datalink Software Development Inc. Alamance Regional Medical Center Regenstrief Institute, Inc. Anvita Health Datuit, LLC Albany Medical Center Rheumatology and Dermatology Apelon, Inc. Dawning Technologies, Inc. ARUP Laboratories, Inc. Associates PC Applied Informatics for Health Society Daxor Corporation Ascension Health Information Services Rockingham Memorial Hospital Applied Statistics & Management, Inc. dbMotion LTD Aspirus - Wausau Hospital SA Tartu University Clinics ARGO Data Resource Corporation Defran Systems Athens Regional Health Services, Inc. Saint Francis Care Arthrex, Inc DeJarnette Research Systems, Inc. Avalon Health Care Saudi Aramco - Healthcare Applications Askesis Development Group Delta Health Technologies, LLC Aviir, Inc Division Aspyra, LLC. Dg Med Technology Corp. BJC HealthCare Secon of New England Atirix Medical Systems Digital Infuzion, Inc. Blessing Hospital SG NATCLAR SAC Aurora MSC Div Media Bloomington Hospital & Healthcare Sharp HealthCare Information Systems Availity, LLC DNA Data Systems Systems South Bend Medical Foundation, Inc. Axolotl Corporation DoctorCom Blount Memorial Hospital Spectrum Health Axway DocuTrac, Inc. Butler Healthcare Providers Stanford Hospital & Clinics Beeler Consulting LLC Dolbey & Company Cape Regional Medical Center Steven Porter, MD Benchmark Systems DynamicDR Carilion Clinic Steward Health Care BIO-NUCLEAR, S. A. EasyMed Services Inc Catholic Healthcare West IT Texas Health Resources Boston Life Labs LLC. EASYTALK MD LLC Cedars-Sinai Medical Center The North Carolina Baptist Hospitals, Inc. Bradoc Data Management, Inc echoBase Central Illinois Radiological Associates Trinity Health BrightEHR, LLC eDerm Systems Children’s Health System of Alabama TriRivers Health Partners BusinessOn eHana LLC Children’s Hospital Medical Center of Tuomey Healthcare System C7 Technologies E-Health Partners, Inc. Akron U.S. Department of Defense, Military CareCam Innovations eHealthCare Systems, Inc. Childrens Mercy Hospitals and Clinics Health System CareCloud Corp Electronic Medical Solutions, LLC Cincinnati Children’s Hospital U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Carefx Corporation Embedded Wireless Labs City of Hope National Medical Center UK HealthCare Carestream Health, Inc. Embla Cleveland Clinic Health System UNC Healthcare CareTech Solutions, Inc. EMC Information Intelligence Group Concentra University Hospital (Augusta) Caristix Emdat, Inc. Consolidated Medical Bio-Analysis, Inc. University of Chicago Medical Center Center for Clinical Innovation Emdeon, LLC Continuum Health Partners University of Nebraska Medical Center Cerner Corporation eMedology LLC David Lawrence Center University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Certify Data Systems Empower Technologies, Inc Deaconess Health System University of Utah Health Care Cetrea A/S EMRgence LLC Diagnostic Laboratory Services University Physicians, Inc. ChartLogic, Inc. Epic Dovetail Health UT M.D. Anderson Cancer Center ChartWise Medical Systems, Inc. eTransX, Inc. East Alabama Medical Center UW Medicine, IT Services ChemWare Expert Sistemas Computacionales S.A. Emergency Medical Services Authority VUMC Cientive Group Inc. DE C.V. Emory Healthcare Washington National Eye Center CJPS Medical Systems, LLC Explorys Endocrine Clinic of Southeast Texas WellMed Medical Management Clear EMR EyeMD EMR Healthcare Systems, Inc. Hill Physicians Medical Group West Virginia University Hospitals Clinical Software Solutions ezEMRx Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare CliniComp, Intl. F5 Networks Human Service Agency CM Care Technology Falcon LLC Institut Jules Bordet Vendors CMPMR, LLC First Medical Solutions Integrated Telemedical Solutions //SOS/Corporation CMR Foothold Technology Intermountain Healthcare 3M Health Information Systems CNIPS, LLC Fresenius Medical Care Johns Hopkins Hospital 4Medica CNSI FSI Kaiser Permanente Abarca Health LLC Cognosante, LLC Futures Group Kalispell Regional Medical Center Abbott Cognovant, Inc GE Healthcare IT Laboratory Corporation of America ABELSoft Inc. Community Computer Service, Inc. GEMMS, Inc Lahey Clinic Accent on Integration Compania de Informatica Aplicata Genesis Systems, Inc. Lakeland Regional Medical Center Accumedic Computer Systems, Inc. Compu Care ALP, inc. Gibraltar Technologies, Inc Lexington Medical Center Aceso Health Information Management Computer Technology Corporation gloStream, Inc. 32 JANUARY 2012 HL7 ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERS, continued

Greenway Medical Technologies, Inc. Kestral Computing Pty Ltd NRC - Illuminate simplifyMD Grow|CMS Key Management Group Nuesoft Technologies, Inc. SMARTMD Corp Haemonetics Corporation knowtion Oakland Software SOAPware, Inc. Halfpenny Technologies, Inc. Krames StayWell Occupational Health Research Socrates Healthcare Ltd Harris Corporation Lab Warehouse, Inc. OD Link Softek Solutions, Inc. HCCS Labware, Inc. OFFI-PLUS, Inc. Software AG USA, Inc. Health Care DataWorks Lane Telecommunications, Inc Omnicell, Inc. Software Partners LLC Health Care Software, Inc. Lavender & Wyatt Systems, Inc. OMNICOM srl SonoSite, Inc Health Data Services, Inc. Lawson Open Dental Software Southern Life Systems, Inc. Health Innovation Technologies Leafsprout Technologies Inc. Optimus EMR, Inc. St. Jude Medical Health Intersections Pty Ltd Liaison Technologies Inc., Opus-ISM LLC StatRad, LLC Health Language, Inc. Life Systems Software Oracle Corporation - Healthcare STI Computer Services, Inc. Healthcare Management Systems, Inc. Life Technologies Orchard Software Stockell Healthcare Systems, Inc. HEALTHeSTATE Lifepoint Informatics Orego Anesthesiology Group, PC StreamlineMD, LLC. Healthland LINK Medical Computing, Inc. Orion Health Suitelinq inc HealthTrio, LLC Liquent, Inc. OSSLLC Suncoast Solutions Healthwise, Inc. Logibec Ototronix Sunquest Information Systems Hewlett-Packard Enterprises Services Loopback Analytics OZ Systems SunRise Systems and Solutions Hickman-Kenyon Systems, Inc LSS Data Systems P&NP Computer Services, Inc. Surescripts Hill Associates Lumeris Panacea Healthcare, LLC Surgical Information Systems Hira Ben, LLC M2comsys Patient360 SurgiVision Consultants, Inc. Hi-Tech Software, Inc. MacPractice, Inc. PatientNOW Swearingen Software, Inc. Holt Systems, Inc Mammography Reporting System Inc. PCE Systems Systematic Group Home Dialysis Plus, Ltd ManagementPlus PCIS GOLD TactusMD, Inc Honeywell HomMed Manchac Technologies, LLC. Pegasystems Tectura Corporation Hospira Marin Health Network Perry Baromedical Inc TELCOR OIS HospiServe Healthcare Services Pty) Ltd. Masimo Labs Philips Healthcare Teradata Corporation, GIS/AMS Hyland Software, Inc. McKesson Provider Technologies Physician’s Computer Company TGI Software i2i Systems MD Logic, Inc Physicians Medical Group of Santa Cruz The CBORD Group Inc. i4i Inc. (Infrastructures for MD-IT County The Echo Group Information Inc.) MDP Systems, LLC PilotFish Technology The SIMI Group, Inc. Iatric Systems MECTA Corporation Politechnika Poznanska The SSI Group, Inc. IBM MED3OOO, Inc. PPM Information Solutions, Inc. TheraDoc, Inc. IBS Expertise MedConnex Practice Velocity, LLC. Thomson Reuters ICLOPS Medexter Healthcare GmbH Premier Healthcare Alliance TIBCO Software Inc. iConnect Consulting Medflow, Inc. PresiNET Healthcare Tidgewell Associates, Inc. Ignis Systems Corporation MedFrame, Inc. Press Ganey Associates Tolven, Inc. iMetrikus, Inc. MEDHOST, Inc. PrimeSource Healthcare Tranquilmoney Inc., Imprivata Medical Office Online Procentive Trellix Medteam Info World Medicity, Inc. ProComp Software Consultants, Inc Trifork Public A/S Information Builders MediServe Information Systems, Inc. Procura Unibased Systems Architecture, Inc. Information Management Associates MediSwitch (Pty)Ltd Prognosis Health Information Systems Universal Medical Records, LLC Inmediata Health Group Mediture Prometheus Computing LLC Universal Research Solutions Innovative Workflow Technologies MediVault, LLC Proventys, Inc. Unlimited Systems Insight Software, LLC Medivo Inc. Prowess Inc. Up To Data Professional Services Gmb Institute for Health Metrics MEDIWARE Information Systems PsyTech Solutions, Inc. Valley Hope Association - IMCSS Integrated Healthcare Solution Sdn Bhd MedMagic LLC QS/1 Data Systems, Inc. VeinDraw integration AG MEDSEEK QuadraMed Corporation Verizon Business Intel Corporation, Digital Health Group MedVirginia Razor Insights, LLC ViMedicus, Inc Intel-GE Care Innovations, LLC Mellon Consulting Group, LLC Recondo Technology, Inc. Virco BVBA IntelliSys Consulting Meta HealthCare Solutions Reed Technology and Information Services Virtify Intelliware Development Inc Meta, Inc. Inc. VisionShare Inc. Interbit Data, Inc. MGRID ReLi Med Solutions Vocollect Healthcare Systems, Inc. Interface People, LP MicroFour, Inc. Rice Lake Weighing Systems Wairever Inc iNTERFACEWARE, Inc. Microsoft Corporation Robust For Life Walgreens Interfix, LLC Mighty Oak Technology, Inc. Rosch Visionary Systems Warren Lamb & Associates, Ltd. InterSystems Mirth Corporation RTZ Associates, Inc Watermark Research Partners, Inc. IntraNexus, Inc. Mitchell & McCormick, Inc Sabiamed Corporation WellCentive, LLC Intuit Health MITEM Corporation Sage WellDoc, Inc. iPatientCare, Inc. Mitochon Systems. SAIC - Science Applications International Wellsoft Corporation IQ-EQ Systems, LLC. MobileMD Corp Wolters Kluwer Health iRCODER.COM Mobiusoft, LLC Sandlot, Inc. Workflow.com, LLC iSEEK Enterprise (USA), LLC Modernizing Medicine, Inc. SANTEOS SA World Medical Center Nordic AS Isoprime Corporation MPN Software Systems, Inc. SAS Institute Xeo Health Jack Russell Software NetDirector Scantron Corporation XIFIN, Inc. Jackson Healthcare, LLC. New Wave Software, Inc. Scientific Retail Systems, Inc. XPress Technologies Jefferson Medical Associates NexJ Systems Inc ScriptRx, Inc. ZetaSys Dental Enterprise Solution John Wiley & Sons NextGen Healthcare Information Systems, Seeburger AG ZipChart, Inc JVM Inc. Shared Health Zoho Corp. Keane, Inc. NitroDesk, Inc. Siemens Healthcare Zweena Keiser Computers Inc. novaHEALTH Pte Ltd SilkOne Zynx Health JANUARY 2012 33 2012 TECHNICAL STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS

CHAIR DOMAIN EXPERTS CO-CHAIRS STRUCTURE & SEMANTIC DESIGN Austin Kreisler Edward Tripp CO-CHAIRS Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) Edward S Tripp and Associates, Inc. Calvin Beebe Phone: 404-542-4475 Phone: 224-234-9769 Mayo Clinic Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Phone: 507-284-3827 Email: [email protected] CHIEF TECHNICAL OFFICER Mead Walker John Quinn Mead Walker Consulting; Patricia Van Dyke HL7 International Phone: 610-518-6259 Delta Dental Plans Association Phone: 216-409-1330 Email: [email protected] Phone: 503-243-4492 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

FOUNDATION & TECHNOLOGY ArB CO-CHAIRS Charles Mead, MD, MSc CO-CHAIRS TECHNICAL & SUPPORT SERVICES 3rd Millennium, Inc. George (Woody) Beeler CO-CHAIRS Phone: 510-541-8224 Beeler Consulting, LLC Patrick Loyd Email: [email protected] Phone: 507-254-4810 ICode Solutions Email: [email protected] Phone: 415-209-0544 Ron Parker Email: [email protected] HL7 Canada Anthony Julian Phone: 902-832-0876 Mayo Clinic Frieda Hall Email: [email protected] Phone: 507-266-0958 Quest Diagnostics, Incorporated Email: [email protected] Phone: 610-650-6794 INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE Email: [email protected] Ravi Natarajan NHS Connecting for Health Phone: 44-113-6520 Email: [email protected]

STEERING DIVISIONS

DOMAIN EXPERTS FOUNDATION & TECHNOLOGY STRUCTURE & SEMANTIC DESIGN Anatomic Pathology Conformance & Guidance for Arden Syntax Anesthesiology Implementation/Testing Clinical Context Object Workgroup Attachments Implementable Technology Specifications Clinical Decision Support Child Health Infrastructure & Messaging Clinical Genomics Clinical Interoperability Council* Modeling & Methodology Clinical Statement Community Based Collaborative Care RIM Based Application Architecture Electronic Health Record Emergency Care Security Financial Management Government Projects Service Oriented Architecture Orders & Observations Health Care Devices Templates Patient Administration Imaging Integration Vocabulary Structured Documents Patient Care Patient Safety TECHNICAL & SUPPORT SERVICES Pharmacy Education Public Health & Emergency Response Electronic Services Regulated Clinical Research International Mentoring Committee Process Improvement Committee Information Management *Voice only; no vote Project Services Publishing Tooling

34 JANUARY 2012 HL7 WORK GROUP CO-CHAIRS Anatomic Pathology Joy Kuhl Mollie Ullman-Cullere Frank Oemig Alliance for Pediatric Quality Partners HealthCare System, Inc. HL7 Germany David Booker, MD Phone: 818-308-7063 Phone: 617-582-7249 Agfa Healthcare College of American Pathologists Email: [email protected] Email: mollie_ullman-cullere@dfci. Phone: 49-208-781194 Phone: 706-736-0991 harvard.edu Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Andy Spooner, MD, FAAP Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Clinical Interoperability Ioana Singureanu Victor Brodsky, MD Phone: 513-803-0121 Council Eversolve, LLC College of American Pathologists Email: [email protected] Phone: 603-870-9739 Phone: 646-322-4648 Meredith Nahm Email: [email protected] Feliciano Yu, MD Email: [email protected] Duke Translational Medicine St. Louis Children’s Hospital Institute Robert Snelick Phone: 314-454-2808 Phone: 919-668-8339 National Institute of Standards & Jeffrey Karp Email: [email protected] College of American Pathologists Email: [email protected] Technology Phone: 847-832-7358 Phone: 301-975-5924 Email: [email protected] Clinical Context Object Dianne Reeves Email: [email protected] Workgroup (CCOW) National Cancer Institute Center for Architectural review Bioinformatics Education Board David Fusari Phone: 301-435-5602 Microsoft Corporation Email: [email protected] Diego Kaminker Charlie Mead, MD, MSc Phone: 978-749-0022 HL7 Argentina 3rd Millennium, Inc. Email: [email protected] Anita Walden Phone: 54-11-4781-2898 Phone: 510-541-8224 Duke Translational Medicine Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Michael Russell, MD Institute Duke Translational Medicine Phone: 919-668-8256 AbdulMalik Shakir Ron Parker Institute Email: [email protected] City of Hope National Medical Phone: 919-684-2513 HL7 Canada Center Email: [email protected] Phone: 902-832-0876 Clinical Statement Phone: 626-644-4491 Email: [email protected] David Staggs Hans Buitendijk Email: US Department of Veterans Affairs Siemens Healthcare [email protected] John Quinn Phone: 858-826-5629 Phone: 610-219-2087 Health Level Seven International Email: [email protected] Email: Electronic Health Records Phone: 216-409-1330 [email protected] Email: [email protected] Clinical Decision Support Gary Dickinson Patrick Loyd CentriHealth Arden Syntax Guilherme Del Fiol, MD ICode Solutions Phone: 951-536-7010 Duke Translational Medicine Phone: 415-209-0544 Email: gary.dickinson Peter Haug Institute Email: [email protected] @ehr-standards.com Intermountain Healthcare Phone: 919-213-4129 Phone: 801-442-6240 Email: [email protected] Rik Smithies Don Mon, PhD Email: [email protected] HL7 UK Donald T. Mon Consulting Robert Jenders, MD NProgram Ltd. Phone: 708-250-4374 Robert Jenders, MD National Library of Medicine Phone: 44-7720-290967 Email: [email protected] National Library of Medicine Phone: 310-435-3192 Email: [email protected] Phone: 301-435-3192 Email: [email protected] John Ritter Email: [email protected] Community Based College of American Pathologists Kensaku Kawamoto, PhD Collaborative Care Phone: 412-372-5783 Attachments Duke Translational Medicine Email: [email protected] Institute Suzanne Gonzales-Webb Durwin Day Phone: 801-587-8076 US Department of Veterans Affairs Helen Stevens Love Health Care Service Corporation Email: Phone: 619-972-9047 Gordon Point Informatics Ltd. Phone: 312-653-5948 [email protected] Email: Phone: 250-598-0312 Email: [email protected] Howard Strasberg [email protected] Email: [email protected] Craig Gabron Wolters Kluwer Health Richard Thoreson Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Phone: 858-481-4249 SAMHSA Email: howard.strasberg@wolter- Carolina Phone: 240-276-2827 Patricia Van Dyke skluwer.com Phone: 803-763-1790 Email: Delta Dental Plans Association Email: [email protected] Clinical Genomics [email protected] Phone: 503-243-4492 Email: Jim McKinley Max Walker Joyce Hernandez [email protected] Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Department of Health Alabama Merck & Co., Inc. Phone: 732-594-1815 Phone: 61-3-9096-1471 Electronic Services Phone: 205-220-5960 Email: [email protected]. Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] gov.au Bill Braithwaite, MD, PhD Child Health Anakam Equity Services, Equifax Kevin Hughes, MD Conformance & Guidance Phone: 202-543-6937 Email: David Classen, MD, MS Partners HealthCare System, Inc. for Implementation/ Alliance for Pediatric Quality Phone: 617-724-0048 Testing [email protected] Phone: 801-532-3633 Email: [email protected] Lorraine Constable Email: [email protected] Wendy Huang Amnon Shabo Constable Consulting Inc. Canada Health Infoway Inc. IBM Phone: 780-951-4853 Gaye Dolin, MSN Phone: 416-595-3449 Phone: 972-544-714070 Email: [email protected] Lantana Consulting Group Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Phone: 714-744-4152 Email: [email protected] JANUARY 2012 35 HL7 Work Group Co-Chairs, continued Ken McCaslin Health Care Devices Robert Stegwee, MSc, PhD—HL7 Orders and Observations Quest Diagnostics, Incorporated International Liaison Phone: 610-650-6692 Todd Cooper HL7 The Netherlands Hans Buitendijk Email: kenneth.h.mccaslin@ 80001 Experts, LLC Phone: 31-30-689-2730 Siemens Healthcare questdiagnostics.com Phone: 858-435-0729 Email: Phone: 610-219-2087 Email: [email protected] [email protected] Email: hans.buitendijk@siemens. Emergency Care com Patty Krantz Helen Stevens Love—Secretary Laura Heermann Langford Medtronic Gordon Point Informatics Ltd. Lorraine Constable Intermountain Healthcare Phone: 763-526-0513 Constable Consulting Inc. Email: [email protected] Phone: 250-598-0312 Phone: 801-507-9254 Email: [email protected] Phone: 780-951-4853 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] John Rhoads, PhD Philips Healthcare International Mentoring Donald Kamens, MD Robert Hausam, MD Phone: 978-659-3024 Committee Hausam Consulting XPress Technologies Email: [email protected] Phone: 904-296-1189 Phone: 801-949-1556 Diego Kaminker Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Imaging Integration HL7 Argentina Phone: 54-11-4781-2898 James McClay, MD Patrick Loyd Helmut Koenig, MD Email: [email protected] ICode Solutions University of Nebraska Medical Siemens Healthcare Phone: 415-209-0544 Center Phone: 49-9131-84-3480 John Ritter Email: [email protected] Phone: 402-559-3587 Email: College of American Pathologists [email protected] Email: [email protected] Phone: 412-372-5783 Ken McCaslin Email: [email protected] Harry Solomon Quest Diagnostics, Incorporated Peter Park Phone: 610-650-6692 US Department of Defense, GE Healthcare IT Marketing Council Phone: 847-277-5096 Email: kenneth.h.mccaslin@ques- Military Health System tdiagnostics.com Phone: 202-762-3055 Email: [email protected] Catherine Chronaki Email: [email protected] HL7 Hellas Implementable Technol- FORTH-Institute of Computer Outreach Committee for ogy Specifications Science Clinical Research Financial Management Phone: 30-2810-391691 Email: [email protected] Kathleen Connor Paul Knapp Ed Helton, PhD Continovation Services, Inc. National Cancer Institute Center for Edmond Scientific Company Phone: 604-987-3313 Jill Kaufman, PhD Bioinformatics Email: Email: [email protected] College of American Pathologists Phone: 919-465-4473 [email protected] Phone: 847-832-7163 Email: [email protected] Dale Nelson Email: [email protected] Beat Heggli Squaretrends LLC Patient Adminstration HL7 Switzerland Phone: 916-367-1458 Rene Spronk Phone: 41-1-806-1164 Email: HL7 The Netherlands Alexander deLeon Email: [email protected] Phone: 31-318-553812 Kaiser Permanente [email protected] Email: [email protected] Phone: 626-381-1455 Andy Stechishin Email: [email protected] Mary Kay McDaniel Gordon Point Informatics Ltd. Grant Wood Markam, Inc. Phone: 780-903-0885 Intermountain Healthcare Patient Care Phone: 602-266-2516 Email: [email protected] Phone: 801-408-8153 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Infrastructure & Stephen Chu, PhD Modeling and National eHealth Transition Generation Of Anesthesia Messaging Authority (NEHTA) Methodology Phone : 61-730238466 Standards Anthony Julian Email: [email protected] Mayo Clinic George (Woody) Beeler Jr., PhD Martin Hurrell, PhD Phone: 507-266-0958 Beeler Consulting, LLC Kevin Coonan, MD (Interim) Phone: 44-7711-669-522 Email: [email protected] Phone: 507-254-4810 Deloitte Consulting LLP Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Phone: 240-682-4882 Patrick Loyd Email: [email protected] Terri Monk ICode Solutions Jean Duteau HL7 Canada Duke Translational Medicine Phone: 415-209-0544 William Goossen Phone: 780-937-8991 Institute Email: [email protected] HL7 The Netherlands Phone: 919-286-6938 Email: [email protected] Results4Care B.V. Amersfoort Email: [email protected] David Shaver Phone: 31-654-614458 Corepoint Health Email: [email protected] Government Projects Phone: 214-618-7000 Grahame Grieve Email: Health Intersections Pty Ltd Hugh Leslie (Interim) [email protected] Phone: 61-3-9450-2222 Nancy Orvis Ocean Informatics US Department of Defense, Military Email: grahame@healthintersec- Sandra Stuart tions.com.au Email: Health System [email protected] Phone: 703-681-3900 Kaiser Permanente Email: [email protected] Phone: 925-924-7473 Lloyd McKenzie Email: [email protected] HL7 Canada Ian Townend NHS Connecting for Health Mitra Rocca Gordon Point Informatics. Phone: 44-113-280-6743 Food and Drug Administration International Council Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Phone: 301-796-2175 Email: [email protected] Catherine Chronaki—Affiliate Ravi Natarajan Liaison NHS Consulting for Health Klaus Veil HL7 Hellas/FORTH-Institute of Phone: 44-113-390-6520 HL7 Australia Computer Science Email: [email protected] Phone: 61-412-746-457 Phone: 30-2810-391691 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] 36 JANUARY 2012 HL7 Work Group Co-Chairs, continued Patient Safety John Roberts RIM Based Application Austin Kreisler Tennessee Department of Health Architecture Science Applications International Nick Halsey Phone: 615-741-3702 Corp European Medicines Agency Email: [email protected] Peter Hendler, MD (SAIC) Phone: 44-0-20-7523-7100 Kaiser Permanente Phone: 404-542-4475 Email: [email protected] Rob Savage Phone: 510-248-3055 Email: [email protected] Rob Savage Consulting Email: [email protected] Ali Rashidee Email: [email protected] Brett Marquard Quantros Amnon Shabo, PhD Lantana Consulting Group Phone: 408-514-4804 Publishing Committee IBM Phone: 413-549-6886 Email: [email protected] Phone: 972-544-714070 Email: brett.marquard@lantana- George (Woody) Beeler Jr., PhD-V3 Email: [email protected] group.com Mead Walker Beeler Consulting, LLC Mead Walker Consulting Phone: 507-254-4810 Rene Spronk Templates Phone: 610-518-6259 Email: [email protected] HL7 The Netherlands Email: [email protected] Phone: 33-318-553812 John Roberts Jane Curry-V2/V3 Email: [email protected] Tennessee Department of Health Pharmacy Health Information Strategies Inc. Phone: 615-741-3702 Phone: 780-459-8560 Security Email: [email protected] Tom de Jong Email: janecurry@healthinforstrate- HL7 The Netherlands gies.com Bernd Blobel, PhD Mark Shafarman Phone: 31-6-3255291 HL7 Germany Shafarman Consulting Email: [email protected] Jane Daus-V2 University of Regensburg Medical Phone: 510-593-3483 McKesson Provider Technologies Center Email: Hugh Glover Phone: 847-495-1289 Phone: 49-941-944-6769 [email protected] HL7 UK Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Blue Wave Informatics regensburg.de Tooling Phone: 44-07889407113 Brian Pech-V2 Email: hugh_glover@bluewavein- Kaiser Permanente Mike Davis Jane Curry formatics.co.uk Phone : 678-245-1762 US Department of Veterans Affairs Health Information Strategies, Inc. Email : [email protected] Phone: 760-632-0294 Phone: 780-459-8560 Email: [email protected] Melva Peters Email: Andrew Stechishin-V3 [email protected] HL7 Canada John Moehrke Gordon Point Informatics Gordon Point Informatics Ltd. Phone: 780-903-0855 GE Healthcare IT Tim Ireland Phone: 604-515-0339 Phone: 920-912-8451 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] NHS Connecting for Health Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Sandra Stuart-V2 Process Improvement Kaiser Permanente Services Oriented Andrew Stechishin Committee Phone: 925-924-7473 Architecture Gordon Point Informatics Ltd. Email: [email protected] Phone: 780-903-0855 Margie Kennedy Gerald Beuchelt Email: [email protected] Phone: 902-926-2827 The MITRE Corporation Email: [email protected] Regulated Clinical Research Information Email : [email protected] Vocabulary Helen Stevens Love Management Don Jorgenson Jim Case Gordon Point Informatics Ltd. Inpriva, Inc. National Library of Medicine Phone: 250-598-0312 Ed Helton, PhD Phone: 970-472-1441 Phone: 301-594-9152 Email: [email protected] National Cancer Institute Center for Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Bioinformatics Project Services Phone: 919-465-4473 Galen Mulrooney Heather Grain Email: [email protected] US Department of Veterans Affairs Standards Australia, Llewelyn Grain Rick Haddorff Phone: 703-815-0900 Informatics Mayo Clinic Armando Oliva, MD Email: [email protected] Phone: 613-956-99443 Phone: 978-296-1462 Food & Drug Administration Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Phone: 301-796-8126 Ken Rubin Email: [email protected] Hewlett-Packard Enterprises Robert Hausam Freida Hall Services Hausam Consulting Quest Diagnostics, Inc. John Speakman Phone: 703-845-3277 Phone: 801-949-1556 Phone: 610-650-6794 National Cancer Institute Center for Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: Bioinformatics [email protected] Phone: 301-451-8786 Structured Documents William T. Klein Email: [email protected] Klein Consulting, Inc. Public Health Emergency Calvin Beebe Mayo Clinic Phone: 631-924-6922 Response Edward Tripp Email: [email protected] Edward S. Tripp & Associates, Inc. Phone: 507-284-3827 Email: [email protected] Alean Kirnak Phone: 224-234-9769 Beverly Knight Email: [email protected] Software Partners LLC Robert Dolin, MD HL7 Canada Email: [email protected] Lantana Consulting Group Phone: 416-595-3449 Phone: 714-532-1130 Email: Joginder Madra Email: [email protected] Gordon Point Informatics Ltd. [email protected] Phone: 780-717-4295 Email: Grahame Grieve [email protected] Health Intersections Pty Ltd Phone: 61-3-9450-2222 Email: grahame@healthintersections.com.au JANUARY 2012 37 HL7 FACILITATORS Steering Division Hugh Glover Amnon Shabo, PhD Alexander Henket Facilitators HL7 UK IBM HL7 The Netherlands Medication Clinical Genomics Patient Administration Phone: 44-0-7889-407-113 Rick Haddorff Phone: 972-544-714070 Phone: 31-62425447 Email: hugh_glover@bluewavein- Email: [email protected] Email: Mayo Clinic/Foundation formatics.co.uk Structure & Semantic Design [email protected] AbdulMalik Shakir Phone: 978-296-1462 Grahame Grieve City of Hope National Medical Email: Anthony Julian Health Intersections Pty Ltd Center [email protected] Mayo Clinic Infrastructure & Messaging Modeling & Methodology Infrastructure & Messaging Phone: 61-3-9450-2222 Phone: 626-644-4491 Phone: 507-266-0958 Lynn Laakso Email: grahame Email: Email: [email protected] Health Level Seven International @healthintersections.com.au [email protected] Foundation & Technology Phone: 906-361-5966 Alexander Henket Helmut Koenig, MD Ioana Singureanu Siemens Healthcare Email: [email protected] HL7 The Netherlands Eversolve, LLC Patient Administration Imaging Integration CBCC & Health Care Devices Phone: 49-9131-84-3480 Dave Hamill Phone: 31-624254447 Phone: 603-870-9739 Health Level Seven International Email: alexander.henket Email: Email: [email protected] Technical & Support Services @enovation.nl [email protected] Phone: 734-677-7777 Erin Holt Austin Kreisler Email: [email protected] Corey Spears Tennessee Department of Health Science Applications International McKesson Provider Technology PHER Corporation (SAIC) Modeling and EHR Email: [email protected] Orders & Observations Methodology Facilitators Phone: 206-269-1211 Email: Phone: 404-542-4475 William “Ted” Klein Email: [email protected] George (Woody) Beeler, Jr., PhD Klein Consulting, Inc. [email protected] Beeler Consulting LLC Vocabulary Margaret (Peggy) Leizear Facilitator-at-Large Phone: 631-924-6922 Mead Walker Mead Walker Consulting Food and Drug Administration Phone: 507-254-4810 Email: [email protected] RCRIM Email: [email protected] Patient Safety; RCRIM Phone: 610-518-6259 Phone: 301-827-5203 Austin Kreisler Email: [email protected] Charlie Bishop Science Applications International Email: [email protected] Corporation (SAIC) iSoft Mary Kay McDaniel Clinical Statement Structured Documents Publishing Facilitators Phone: 404-542-4475 Markam, Inc. Phone: 44-7989-705-395 Financial Management Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Becky Angeles ScenPro, Inc. Phone: 602-266-2516 Email: Bernd Blobel, PhD Patrick Loyd RCRIM Phone: 972-437-5001 [email protected] HL7 Germany ICode Solutions Email: [email protected] Security Orders & Observations Phone: 415-209-0544 Dale Nelson Phone: 49-941-944-6769 Email: [email protected] Douglas Baird Squaretrends LLC Email: Boston Scientific Corporation CMET; Implementable Technology bernd. Joginder Madra Templates Specifications [email protected] Gordon Point Informatics Ltd. Phone: 651-582-3241 Phone: 916-367-1458 Immunization Email: Email: Kathleen Connor Phone: 780-717-4295 [email protected] [email protected] Microsoft Corporation Email: Financial Management [email protected] Mike Davis Frank Oemig Email: US Department of Veterans Affairs HL7 Germany [email protected] Dale Nelson Security German Realm Squaretrends LLC Phone: 760-632-0294 Phone: 49-208-781194 Kevin Coonan, MD Implementable Technology Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Deloitte Consulting LLP Specifications Phone: 916-367-1458 Emergency Care Isobel Frean Nancy Orvis Email: [email protected] Email: Bupa Group [email protected] US Department of Defense, Clinical Statement Military Health System Norman Daoust Phone: 44-207-656-2146 Government Projects Daoust Associates Craig Parker, MD Email: [email protected] Intermountain Healthcare Phone: 703-681-3900 Anatomic Pathology Email: [email protected] Phone: 617-491-7424 Clinical Decision Support Peter Gilbert Email: Phone: 801-859-4480 Covisint Email: [email protected] Craig Parker, MD [email protected] Structured Documents Intermountain Healthcare Phone: 313-227-0358 Jenni Puyenbroek Clinical Decision Support Email: [email protected] Jean Duteau Science Applications International Phone: 801-859-4480 Gordon Point Informatics Ltd. Corporation (SAIC) Email: [email protected] Pharmacy Conformance & Guidance for Robert Hallowell Phone: 780-937-8991 Implementation/Testing Siemens Healthcare Email: Phone: 678-261-2099 Medication; Pharmacy [email protected] Email: [email protected] Phone: 610-219-5612 Email: [email protected] 38 JANUARY 2012 HL7 FACILITATORS, continued John Ritter Kristi Eckerson Susan Matney Harold Solbrig College of American Pathologists Emory University, Research & 3M Health Information Systems Apelon, Inc. EHR Health Services IT Patient Care Modeling & Methodology Phone: 412-372-5783 PHER Phone: 801-265-4326 Phone: 807-993-0269 Email: [email protected] Phone: 404-712-5086 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Robert Savage Robert McClure, MD Harry Solomon Rob Savage Consulting Christof Gessner Apelon, Inc. GE Healthcare IT Immunization HL7 Germany CBCC Imaging Integration Email: [email protected] Health Care Devices Phone: 303-926-6771 Phone: 847-277-5096 Phone: 49-172-3994033 Email: [email protected] Email: harry.solomon@med. Ioana Singureanu Email: [email protected] ge.com Eversolve, LLC Nancy Orvis CBCC Hugh Glover US Department of Defense, Sandra Stuart Phone: 603-870-9739 HL7 UK Military Health System Kaiser Permanente Email: CMET Government Projects Infrastructure & Messaging [email protected] Phone: 44-0-7889-407113 Phone: 703-681-3900 Phone: 925-924-7473 Email: hugh_glover@bluewavein- Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Margarita Sordo formatics.co.uk Partners HealthCare System, Inc. Jenni Puyenbroek Pat Van Dyke Gello Margaret Haber, BSN, RN, OCN Science Applications International Delta Dental Plans Association Phone: 617-643-5894 National Cancer Institute Center Corporation (SAIC) EHR Email: [email protected] for Bioinformatics Conformance & Guidance for Phone: 503-243-4992 RCRIM Implementation/Testing Email: Anita Walden Phone: 301-594-9185 Phone: 678-261-2099 [email protected] Duke Translational Medicine Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Institute Clinical Interoperability Council W. Edward Hammond, PhD Sarah Ryan Phone: 919-668-8256 Templates Clinical Interoperability Council Email: [email protected] Phone: 919-383-3555 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Grant Wood Intermountain Healthcare Robert Hausam, MD Clinical Genomics Hausam Consulting Phone: 801-408-8153 Orders & Observations; Structured Email: [email protected] Documents Phone: 801-949-1556 Email: [email protected] Vocabulary Facilitators Joyce Hernandez Paul Biondich, MD Merck & Co. Inc. IU School of Medicine Clinical Genomics Child Health Phone: 732-594-1815 Phone: 317-278-3466 Email: Email: [email protected] [email protected]

Steve Connolly Wendy Huang Apelon, Inc. Canada Health Infoway Inc. Security Patient Administration Email: [email protected] Phone: 416-595-3449 Email: Kathleen Connor [email protected] Edmond Scientific Company Financial Management Julie James Email: Blue Wave Informatics [email protected] Medication; Pharmacy Email: julie_james@bluewavein- Kevin Coonan, MD formatics.co.uk Deloitte Consulting LLP Emergency Care William “Ted” Klein Email: [email protected] Klein Consulting, Inc. Modeling & Methodology Guilherme Del Fiol, MD Phone: 631-924-6922 Duke Translational Medicine Email: [email protected] Institute Clinical Decision Support Patrick Loyd Phone: 919-213-4129 ICode Solutions Email: Clinical Statement [email protected] Phone: 415-209-0544 Email: [email protected]

JANUARY 2012 39 2012 HL7 STAFF Chief Executive Chief Technical Executive Associate Executive Officer Officer Director Director

Charles Jaffe, MD, PhD John Quinn Mark McDougall Karen Van Hentenryck +1-858-720-8200 +1-216-409-1330 +1-734-677-7777 +1-734-677-7777 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Director of Manager Web Development Director, Project Meetings of Education Coordinator Management Office

Lillian Bigham Mary Ann Boyle Joshua Carmody Dave Hamill +1-989-736-3703 +1-734-677-7777 +1-734-677-7777 +1-734-677-7777 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Manager of Administrative Director of TSC Project Services Technical Services Manager

Linda Jenkins Michael Kingery Lynn Laakso +1-734-677-7777 +1-919-636-4032 +1-906-361-5966 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Director of Director of Technical Director of Membership Publications Communications Services

Diana Stephens Donald Lloyd Andrea Ribick +1-734-677-7777 +1-734-677-7777 +1-734-677-7777 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 40 JANUARY 2012 2012 HL7 Board of Directors Chair Past Chair Treasurer Secretary Technical Steering Committee Chair

Donald Mon, PhD Robert Dolin, MD Michael van Campen Jill Kaufman, PhD RTI International Lantana Consulting Group Gordon Point Informatics Ltd. College of American +1-312-777-5228 +1-714-532-1130 +1-250-881-4568 Pathologists Austin Kreisler [email protected] Bob.Dolin michael.vancampen +1-847-832-7163 Science Applications @LantanaGroup.com @gpinformatics.com [email protected] International Corp. (SAIC) +1-404-542-4475 Directors-at-Large [email protected]

Keith Boone Douglas Fridsma, MD, PhD W. Edward Stanley Huff, MD GE Healthcare IT Office of the National Hammond, PhD Intermountain Healthcare +1-617-519-2076 Coordinator for Health IT +1-919-383-3555 +1-801-442-4885 [email protected] +1-202-205-4408 hammo001 [email protected] [email protected] @mc.duke.edu Affiliate Directors

Rebecca Kush, PhD Edward Tripp Catherine Chronaki Diego Kaminker CDISC Edward S Tripp FORTH-Institute of Computer Chair, HL7 Argentina +1-512-791-7612 and Associates, Inc. Science; HL7 Hellas BoD +54-11-4781-2898 [email protected] +1-224-234-9769 +30-2810-391691 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Ex Officio Members Advisory Council Chair

Charles Jaffe, MD, PhD John Quinn Mark McDougall Richard Dixon Hughes HL7 CEO HL7 CTO HL7 Exective Director DH4 Pty Limited +1-858-720-8200 +1-216-409-1330 +1-734-677-7777 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] JANUARY 2012 41 HL7 EDUCATIONAL SUMMITS

Gain real-world HL7 knowledge TODAY that you can apply TOMORROW

What is an Educational Summit? The HL7 Educational Summit is a a two-day schedule of tutorials focused on HL7-specific topics such as Version 2, Version 3 and Clinical Document Architecture. Educational sessions also cover general interest industry topics such as vocabulary. Why Should I Attend? This is an invaluable educational opportunity for the healthcare IT community as it strives for greater interoperability among healthcare information systems. Our classes offer a wealth of information designed to benefit UPCOMING a wide range of HL7 users, from beginner to advanced. EDUCATIONAL Among the benefits of attending the HL7 Educational SUMMITS Summit are: • Efficiency Concentrated two-day format provides maximum training with minimal time investment • Learn Today, Apply Tomorrow A focused curriculum featuring real-world HL7 knowledge that you can apply immediately • Quality Education High-quality training in a “small classroom” setting promotes more one-on-one learning • Superior Instructors You’ll get HL7 training straight from the source: Our instructors. They are not only HL7 experts; they are March 6-8, 2012 the people who help produce the HL7 standards Doubletree by Hilton – Buckhead Atlanta, GA • Certification Testing Become HL7 Certified: HL7 is the sole source for HL7 certification testing, now offering testing on July 17-19, 2012 Version 2.6, Clinical Document Architecture, Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark and Version 3 RIM St. Louis, MO • Economical November 2012 A more economical alternative for companies who Salt Lake City, UT want the benefits of HL7’s on-site training but have fewer employees to train

42 JANUARY 2012 SAVE THE DATE FOR HIMSS 2012

February 20-24, 2012 Venetian Sands Expo Center Las Vegas, NV

Join us in the HL7 Booth (#4420) at the HIMSS 2012 Exhibit

HL7 will once again offer a variety of education sessions covering HL7 standards and current industry topics. Visit our booth to learn more about how HL7 and HL7 standards contribute to meaningful use and are helping change the face of healthcare IT.

JANUARY 2012 43 Upcoming WORKING GROUP MEETINGS

May 13 – 18, 2012 Working Group Meeting Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel Vancouver, BC, Canada

September 9 – 14, 2012 26th Annual Plenary & Working Group Meeting Hyatt Regency Baltimore Baltimore, MD

January 13 – 18, 2013 January 12 – 14, 2014 Working Group Meeting Working Group Meeting Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort Hilton in the Walt Disney World® Resort Phoenix, AZ Lake Buena Vista, FL