HL7 and the ITK

• The toolkit is based on HL7 standards, version 2 and version 3, both of which are already deployed widely in the NHS.
• NEW: HL7 UK are running ITK Training Courses in London and Manchester during Jan/Feb 2012.
• HL7 UK Members can use the members mailing list to discuss HL7 aspects of the ITK.
• HL7 UK ran a series of Roadshows in 2011 to promote healthcare interoperability. Presentations are available here...>>
• HL7 UK ran HL7 Version 2 and HL7 Version 3 Training Courses in Central London during November 2011 and are planning another round in June 2012.

Access to the ITK

The NHS Connecting for Health website has dedicated ITK pages including:

• ITK Background

• Standards, Frameworks and service definitions

• Accreditation

• Making ITK Work

The ITK NHS Management Group has chosen to site the discussion network and forums on www.healthictportal.com. Users can participate in ITK related discussions as well as access the latest news and information.

The technical documentation and message specifications are now available for examination and comment on www.healthictportal.com for:

• [11-04-11] Candidate specification for ITK 2.0 Spine Mini Services - allowing controlled access to the NHS Personal Demographic Service

Formal releases of ITK will be made through TRUD (http://www.uktcregistration.nss.cfh.nhs.uk/trud3) - you will need to register to access the standard.

• [19/01/12] A new Version 2.0 of the Interoperability Toolkit Spine Mini Services pack has been re-released. This new version includes: A modification to the PN.NHS.PersonNameType2 flavour to make the use attribute optional.
• [13/12/11] Updated Version 2.0.0 of the Interoperability Toolkit Accreditation pack is now available to download, this version includes;
  - A new accreditation scope guidance page
  - Enhanced guidance included within the Supplier certified requirements spreadsheet
  - Acknowledgement Framework test sequence diagrams
  - Latest enhanced Test bench (v1.34-svt-20111206) - release note within accreditation pack contains change details
  - Full testbench support for ITK2 Correspondence pack - including automatic domain validation
  - Full testbench support for ITK Dashboard pack message validation
  - SOAP wrapped message examples for all web services, including HL7 v2 'pipe and hat' base 64 encoded payload examples
  - Test automation aid - Single simulator function for all ITK2 web services
• [30-11-11] Two release subpacks for NHS Interoperability toolkit have been introduced.
  • ITK Specifications Reference Pack
    The Interoperability Specifications Reference Pack is a periodic publication of referenced content type within interoperability specifications. The Reference Pack consists of the following:
    - OID Catalogue: For usage of OIDs please refer to individual Domain Message Specifications.
    - HL7 v3 Vocabulary: For usage of HL7 v3 Vocabularies please refer to individual Domain Message Specifications.
    - HL7 v2 Vocabulary: For the definitive source for HL7 v2 Vocabularies please refer to the NHS Interoperability Toolkit HL7v2
    - SNOMED CT Subsets: For the definitive source for SNOMED CT subsets please refer to the Combined Terminology Bi- Annual Release on the Technology Reference Data Update Distribution Service. For usage of SNOMED CT subsets please refer to individual Domain Message Specifications.
  • ITK Health and Social Care Integration Domain Message Specification pack
    The Health and Social Care Integration Domain Message Specification supports the communication requirements of the Common Assessment Framework for Adults. The programme of work has three core components: Assessment with Care and Support Planning, Hospital Discharge Notifications to Social Care and NHS Continuing Healthcare.

• [16-09-11]The NHS Interoperability Toolkit (ITK) Release 2 has been updated to include a new sub-pack - NHS Interoperability Toolkit CDA Functional Requirements [more info]
  This contains the requirements for systems sending or receiving messages containing NHS Connecting for Health published message specifications for CDA Documents (e.g. Discharge, OutPatient, A&E, OOH and Ambulance Reports). 
  It covers the handling of CDA Documents by clinical applications and the processing and transmission of these by Message Handling Systems between parties over a variety of transports.

• [11-08-11] The NHS Interoperability Toolkit (ITK) Release 2 Accreditation pack is now available for download

• [11-07-25] The NHS Interoperability Toolkit release 2 release is now available for download

Please note: Vendors using the specifications are required to have purchased a license to use HL7 IP or to be an organisational member in good standing of HL7 UK or of HL7 International

Accreditation 

In order to receive accreditation, a vendor must demonstrate the technical conformance of their product with the ITK requirements by submitting evidence of this conformance to CFH for review.

Accredited Companies:
Please refer to the NHS CFH Accreditation Catalogue for latest update and full product listing 

• Healthcare Gateway Limited
• Intersystems
• PCTI Solutions Ltd
• Fiorano Ltd

As of 14th November 2011, all new requests for accreditation and support will need to be against Release 2.0, CFH will no longer be accepting requests to provide accreditation or support services for Releases 1.0 or 1.1.