EHR - Standards for Interoperability

I am pleased to read the latest version of the EHRVA Interoperability Roadmap from the HIMSS Electronic Health Record Vendors Association. --

From Healthcare IT News:

EHR vendor group develops interoperability roadmap
The HIMSS EHRVA has provided an EHRVA Interoperability Roadmap Version 2.0 that details what is required to reach the goals for a nationwide health information network. The roadmap was developed originally in response to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology's request for information for architectures to support a nationwide health information network.
March 7, 2006

The draft has the tone and flavor of standards that deal not with mechanics but rather with the process of establishing standards itself. Two key areas to note:

• Framework for interoperability
  (Business, Communication Service, Integration Profile, and Base Standards Levels)
• Categories of information services
  (Security and Identity, Persistent Information Management, Dynamic Information Access, and Workflow and Quality)

Clearly, as in architecture development for distributed enterprise systems of all kinds, "one size fits all" does not apply. It is unlikely that a single EHR product would span local HIT systems, RHIO's, and integrative models for a NHIN. This roadmap, however, can help guarantee that healthcare IT designers will achieve the levels of system interoperability -- based on business process management -- that are so keenly desired by all stakeholders.

Visit the EHRVA site and forward your comments on the roadmap.