Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise
Encyclopedia
IHE is an initiative by healthcare professionals and industry to improve the way computer systems in healthcare share information.
In 1997, a consortium of radiologists and information technology
experts formed IHE, or "Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise." IHE created and operates a process through which interoperability
of health care IT systems can be improved. The group gathers case requirements, identifies available standards, and develops technical guidelines that manufacturers can implement. IHE also stages "connectathons" and "interoperability showcases" in which vendors assemble to demonstrate the interoperability of their products.
IHE is an international organization that focuses on the development of open and global IHE Integration Profiles and on the regional deployment of interoperable IT systems. Because of its limited resources, IHE concentrates on specific projects. It solicits proposals; and after surveying its members to better understand their priorities, it chooses areas to focus on.
Well over 300 manufacturers have demonstrated support for one or more IHE Profiles, see *http://connectathon-results.ihe-europe.net/. IHE is sponsored by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society
(HIMSS), the Radiological Society of North America
(RSNA), and the American College of Cardiology
(ACC). The eye care
domain is sponsored by the American Academy of Ophthalmology
.
scenario and document how to use established standards
(e.g. HL7, DICOM, LOINC
...) to accomplish it. A group of systems that implement the same Integration Profile address the need/scenario in a mutually compatible way.
Integration Profiles describe basic functional elements and therefore are reusable in many IT applications. More characteristics are:
IHE Integration Statements are simple documents prepared and published by a vendor to list the IHE Profiles supported by a specific release of a specific product.
IHE Technical Frameworks are the detailed documents which specify the Integration Profiles and the associated actors (systems) and transactions.
IHE Connectathons are annual events where equipment vendors bring products with IHE Profiles and test them with other vendors.
In 1997, a consortium of radiologists and information technology
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
experts formed IHE, or "Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise." IHE created and operates a process through which interoperability
Interoperability
Interoperability is a property referring to the ability of diverse systems and organizations to work together . The term is often used in a technical systems engineering sense, or alternatively in a broad sense, taking into account social, political, and organizational factors that impact system to...
of health care IT systems can be improved. The group gathers case requirements, identifies available standards, and develops technical guidelines that manufacturers can implement. IHE also stages "connectathons" and "interoperability showcases" in which vendors assemble to demonstrate the interoperability of their products.
IHE is an international organization that focuses on the development of open and global IHE Integration Profiles and on the regional deployment of interoperable IT systems. Because of its limited resources, IHE concentrates on specific projects. It solicits proposals; and after surveying its members to better understand their priorities, it chooses areas to focus on.
Well over 300 manufacturers have demonstrated support for one or more IHE Profiles, see *http://connectathon-results.ihe-europe.net/. IHE is sponsored by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society
Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society
The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality, safety, cost-effectiveness, and access to healthcare through the best use of information technology and management systems. Originally founded in 1961 as the Hospital...
(HIMSS), the Radiological Society of North America
Radiological Society of North America
The Radiological Society of North America, Inc. is a professional membership society committed to excellence in patient care through education and research...
(RSNA), and the American College of Cardiology
American College of Cardiology
The American College of Cardiology is a nonprofit medical association established in 1949 to advocate for quality cardiovascular care through education, research promotion, development and application of standards and guidelines, and to influence health care policy...
(ACC). The eye care
domain is sponsored by the American Academy of Ophthalmology
American Academy of Ophthalmology
The American Academy of Ophthalmology is the largest national membership medical association of ophthalmologists–medical doctors specializing in eye care and surgery including medical, surgical and optical care. More than 90 percent of practicing U.S. Eye M.D.s are Academy members, and the...
.
Prioritized Projects
Currently, IHE has three prioritized projects. First, it would like to improve patient-ID binding, which ensures that medical data from one patient is never accidentally placed under the wrong name. Second, it hopes to enhance device-enterprise communication, and finally, it is interested in promoting the development of easy-to-use, point-of-care technology.IHE Integration Profiles
IHE Integration Profiles describe a clinical information need or workflowWorkflow
A workflow consists of a sequence of connected steps. It is a depiction of a sequence of operations, declared as work of a person, a group of persons, an organization of staff, or one or more simple or complex mechanisms. Workflow may be seen as any abstraction of real work...
scenario and document how to use established standards
Standardization
Standardization is the process of developing and implementing technical standards.The goals of standardization can be to help with independence of single suppliers , compatibility, interoperability, safety, repeatability, or quality....
(e.g. HL7, DICOM, LOINC
LOINC
Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes is a database and universal standard for identifying medical laboratory observations. It was developed and is maintained by the Regenstrief Institute, a US non-profit medical research organization, in 1994...
...) to accomplish it. A group of systems that implement the same Integration Profile address the need/scenario in a mutually compatible way.
Integration Profiles describe basic functional elements and therefore are reusable in many IT applications. More characteristics are:
- each Integration Profile is based on relevant use-cases described by real users
- Integration Profiles are independent of manufacturers or products
- Integration Profiles are stable once published and may be extended by amendments - rather than re-written.
- Integration Profiles provide an implementation guide for equipment vendors
- Integration Profiles are an effective shorthand for healthcare providers to specify integration requirements when purchasing systems and therefore achieved considerable recognition in the market.
IHE Integration Statements are simple documents prepared and published by a vendor to list the IHE Profiles supported by a specific release of a specific product.
IHE Technical Frameworks are the detailed documents which specify the Integration Profiles and the associated actors (systems) and transactions.
IHE Connectathons are annual events where equipment vendors bring products with IHE Profiles and test them with other vendors.