The need for semantic health interoperability is highlighted

8 May 2008

The need for semantic health interoperability is highlighted in the report below by the editor of the European standards that define the archetype framework. There are many similarities between HL7 models and archetypes, and for consistent interoperability it makes sense to build on the best of both, and there are promising signs within the NHS and the standards community that this is indeed the direction of travel.

The report incorrectly implies that HL7 only defines messages. HL7v3 provides a semantic framework for information models that is used in services, documents and messages. In this framework the function of archetypes is served by static models (familiar to many users as RMIM diagrams and MIF files). Further and most importantly, HL7 as an organisation provides a mature place in which to agree between suppliers, purchasers, and users what those constraints should be at a national and global level for representing clinical information of different sorts.

In order to reduce even more expensive diversity for suppliers and the NHS it is crucial that a convergent approach is vigorously pushed for.

eHealth Europe Article: 6 May 2008

An extract of the article is below, to view the full article click here...>>

"Dr Kalra said with full semantic health interoperability the objective should be that clinical data looks the same as clinician’s own data. Users can still view where data came from, but should be able to have as much confidence in the data as their own."

[Source: eHealth Europe (06/05/08)]

Last modified 08/05/08