"Web Services" and "Service Orientated Architecture" are new buzz words in the health IT space.  Are these the new directions for health communications?  Where are they on the famous GARTNER "Hype Cycle"?  Web Services are one form of communication protocols to enable collaboration between different applications. This approach has been recommended by the National E-Health Transition Authority in their recent discussion papers.  Both are well worth reading and open for public comment.

HL7 Australia is convening a one-day workshop on "Web Services in Healthcare" on Tuesday, 28^th March 2006 at the Stamford Plaza Airport Hotel in Sydney.  It is no coincidence that this is the day following the NEHTA Health Executives briefing.  Last year a HL7 workshop examined the problems of communication in the pathology and diagnostic imaging sector which resulted in a challenge to communication vendors to “interoperate”.  The 2005 interoperability demonstration showed what can be done with existing standards and communication technology.  HL7 believes there is a need for education and discussion to assist the health IT industry understand the communication problem that Web Services will solve and to consider why other options, many of which are currently being used with varying degrees of success, are not recommended ways forward for health.

How will we transition from here to the future?  Are web services the preferred communication medium for all applications?  What exactly are they and why are they different to using a web-browser?  Do they guarantee interoperability?  What is the place of existing efforts within HL7, Standards Australia and NEHTA to develop common message structures, data groups, archetypes and vocabularies?

The keynote speaker is Professor Michael Georgeff (Monash University), a well known proponent of the use of the internet in healthcare. He is supported by Michael Czapski (Sun Microsystems). Robert Wood and Hoylen Sue (authors of the NEHTA reports) will provide an update. Grahame Grieve will discuss how HL7 is positioned to support and use this technology. Tom Bowden (HealthLink), Mark Gibson (Extensia Solutions/DSTC) Uma Srinivasan (PHI Systems), Tim Bennington (AutumnCare Services), Greg McLoyd (Queensland Health)  and Ross Davey (ArgusConnect) will participate in a forum for health industry players who have experience with Web Services to share their experiences and views.

This workshop will provide both a high level overview of the technology as well as a focus on the problem areas best addressed by Web Services and SOA, as well as technical and implementation issues.