The "A08|HL7|Update" Newsletter

So - here it is: My small contribution to improving the flow of HL7 info.

For some time I (and others, especially the HL7 USA delegates) had suggested that the our HL7 information flow needs to be improved, but nothing much happened. So I've compiled some of the items that are hopefully relevant to us into a mini email-newsletter.

I've create three sections: "HL7 in Australia", "HL7 International" and a "Calendar of HL7 events".

Please help me by letting me know if this is useful and what other info would help you.

Klaus

PS: The first one to figure out why this newsletter is called "A08" gets an original HL7 puzzle!

 The main event this month is the "National Health IT Infrastructure" workshop organised by Andersen Consulting on behalf of the DoH. stakeholders will meet for two days to discuss what can be done to focus Australia's strategy in Health IT. The outcomes will determine much of the medium-term policy in health IT standards and infrastructure.

 After plenty of hard work the revised versions of AS4700.1 and AS4700.2 are well under way. AS4700.2 is nearly ready for public comment, while AS4700.1 needs some more input from the Working Group, especially regarding the Victorian RAPID spec.

 After a long break IT14/6/6 "Referral and Healthcare Messaging" met in June to reconvene under David Rowed as chair. The Working Group made good progress and was able to address a number of specific technical issues. Watch this space.

 NSW Health continues to implement its HL7 interfacing strategy. Apart from a statewide license for the STC Datagate interface engine, Orion "Symphonia" licenses have been bought for smaller interfaces.

 The RIM Meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA was again a busy week. For details look at www.hl7.org/library/committees/mnm/minutes/Harmonization Indi 99-6.rtf.  Info on the RIM Service structure can be found at http://aurora.rg.iupui.edu/RIM.  If you want to see photos of the RIM experts in action, look at www.rishel.com/meetings/hl7harm/harm9906.htm.

 The "Secure HL7 Transactions Using InterNet Mail" recommendation was ratified after a successful HL7 membership ballot.  The document specifies cryptography (PGP or S/MIME) combined with standard MIME. It works not only with email but also with http.  This readies HL7 messages for the requirements of EDI and e-commerce.

 ANSI (the American National Standards Institute) approved HL7 V2.3.1 on April 14, 1999 as an American National Standard.  This gives HL7 V2.3.1 full standards endorsement.  HL7 has also decided to maintain ANSI accreditation for *two* concurrent HL7 versions (eg. V2.3 and V2.3.1).  Older versions will still exist, but HL7 will let their accreditation lapse.

 The HL7 Marketing Committee is busy organising a HL7 Stand at the MGMA conference.  More info at www.HL7.org

 A workgroup of the X12 Health Care Task Group is meeting in Malvern, PA, USA on August 9, 1999 to further develop an information model in support of the UN/EDIFACT interactive eligibility messages (IHCEBI and IHCEBR).  Participation from HL7 members is sought to compare existing information models pertaining to health insurance benefit coverages and authorisations.

 A workshop on Distributed Object Computing Security is being held on July 12-15, 1999 at Baltimore, MD, USA.  Sponsored by the US National Security Agency (NSA), Object Management Group (OMG) Gradient Technologies, Inc. and The Interoperability Clearinghouse.  Program Information at: www.OMG.org/homepages/docsec/1999/program.html

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