Share this page:

Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE)


Health care and health information professionals collaborating to improve information sharing between health care technology systems.
Members: 259
Contact: David Kwan
Type: Open
Access: Public
Health care and health information professionals collaborating to improve information sharing between health care technology systems.

About

What is IHE? IHE is an initiative by healthcare professionals and industry to improve the way computer systems in healthcare share information. IHE promotes the coordinated use of established standards such as DICOM and HL7 to address specific clinical needs in support of optimal patient care. Systems developed in accordance with IHE communicate with one another better, are easier to implement, and enable care providers to use information more effectively. Physicians, medical specialists, nurses, administrators and other care providers require vital information be passed seamlessly from system to system within and across departments and made readily available at the point of care, in other words enabling systems interoperability. IHE is designed to make this a reality by improving the state of systems integration and removing barriers to optimal patient care.

Why is IHE needed? Optimal patient care requires efficient access to all relevant information. Despite the advanced state of technology, however, healthcare enterprises have not yet begun to realize the full potential of computer systems to reduce medical errors, improve the efficiency of care providers and enhance the overall quality of clinical care. To do so requires a framework for information sharing that meets the needs of care providers as well as patients–and gains acceptance among the companies that build the systems they rely on.

Standards provide the basis for such a framework, but alone do not solve the problem. In any standard there are gaps, options, room for conflicting interpretations. No standard maps perfectly to the complex and ever-changing information domain of a healthcare enterprise. Filling the gap between standards and systems integration has, until now, required expensive, site-specific interface development. To close that gap a process for building a detailed framework for the implementation of standards is needed. IHE provides that process.

Who is IHE? IHE is sponsored by associations of healthcare professionals around the world and has welcomed participation by many of the leading manufacturers of imaging and information systems. Volunteer members of these associations, including clinicians and other care providers, healthcare executives and information technology experts, play a key role in guiding the development of IHE and determining priorities for integration. They collaborate with vendor representatives to identify obstacles to integration and optimal care and remove them by developing and implementing standards-based solutions for information sharing.

IHE International, the organization overseeing the development and publication of IHE Technical Frameworks worldwide, is sponsored by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) and the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). IHE has expanded continually and developed strong international support. Canada Health Infoway is an IHE Benefactor member, committing to IHE’s mission, independence and sustainability.

How do I use IHE? How you use IHE depends on your specific role and your specific needs. Clinicians and administrators should be aware of the clinical and operational benefits that can be realized through IHE Integration Profiles and encourage their departments to demand those capabilities when acquiring or upgrading systems. Information technology professionals should know how to use IHE Integration Profiles in RFPs and purchasing agreements and should familiarize themselves with sections of the Technical Framework that describe interfaces between systems under their supervision. Specifying IHE integration content as requirements specifications, along with conformance testing reduces risk and frames vendor accountability. Healthcare information technology solution developers and systems integrators should have a detailed knowledge of the sections of the Technical Framework relevant to their systems, these technical resources are developed to address clinical and informatics use cases in the real world.

If IHE is about achieving a common language for integration, then an analogy can be made to how one uses various resources to understand a foreign language…

Standards such as DICOM and HL7 provide the vocabulary and basic grammar for the language of integration. The Technical Framework organizes these elements somewhat like a language textbook, fitting together the most relevant pieces and eliminating confusion and ambiguity. Integration Profiles are like a phrase book for essential communications. They further organize the language to enable vendors and purchasers to communicate about systems integration-even if DICOM or HL7 is not their native language.

IHE can make systems integration faster, more efficient, less expensive and more successful. Standards-based integration solutions like those defined in IHE are flexible, durable, easier to implement and less expensive to maintain than proprietary methods. Achieving systems integration through IHE is a dramatic step toward providing optimal patient care.

IHE Process - Engaging HIT Stakeholders in a Proven Process

IHE brings together users and developers of healthcare information technology (HIT) in an annually recurring four-step process:

1. Clinical and technical experts define critical use cases for information sharing.

2. Technical experts create detailed specifications for communication among systems to address these use cases, selecting and optimizing established standards.

3. Industry implements these specifications called IHE Profiles in HIT systems.

4. IHE tests vendors’ systems at carefully planned and supervised events called Connectathons.

IHE_Process_Map

Integration Profiles: A Framework for Interoperability

IHE Profiles provide a standards-based framework for sharing information within care sites and across networks. They address critical interoperability issues related to information access for care providers and patients, clinical workflow, security, administration and information infrastructure. Each profile defines the actors, transactions and information content required to address the clinical use case by referencing appropriate standards.

See capsule descriptions of current IHE profiles in each domain. IHE Profiles are compiled into IHE Technical Frameworks-detailed technical documents that serve as implementation guides and Technical Frameworks freely available online.

Connectathons: Testing Interoperability and Conformance

IHE has been testing the interoperability of HIT systems for more than a decade. At IHE Connectathons held regularly in several locations internationally, trained technical experts supervise testing of vendor systems, making use of advanced testing software developed by IHE and several partner organizations. More than 250 vendors worldwide have implemented and tested products with IHE capabilities.

What is the InfoCentral IHE Canada Community?

The InfoCentral IHE Canada Community is a place where health care professionals, the health information industry, and government administrators collaborate to improve the way health care technologies and systems share information.

To become a member of this community select Join Group in the Group Menu.

If you have an idea for a subject, a community working group or project that will drive interoperability forward, let us know! Send your suggestions

LEADER

David Kwan, IHE Canada Chair
(Insygnia Consulting Inc.)

KEY RESOURCES

IHE Resources

Activity

Hi IHE Canada members, Infoway would like to provide an update on the enhancement requests we have received for our Terminology Server. We sincerely thank you for your valuable feedback and for taking the time to share your insights with us. We appreciate your engagement and want to assure you that your input is crucial as we continue to improve our services. Based on your feedback, we are actively working with our vendor, Dedalus, and our internal IT team to develop an alternative solution that will allow users to download release files (e.g., pCLOCD, SNOMED CT CA, and SUBSETS) in legacy formats like Excel and ZIP files, similar to the current offerings in the Terminology Gateway. We are in the process of developing a proof of concept and aim to make it available on InfoCentral in the coming weeks. Additionally, we understand that some of your requests fall outside the current scope of this project and would require customizations for tools that are not directly managed by Infoway or our partners. While these specific changes are not feasible at this time, we are dedicated to collaborating with all necessary stakeholders to explore possible long-term solutions. Our focus is on implementing meaningful enhancements where we can, ensuring that we continually improve the experience for all users. Ensuring a smooth and effective user experience remains our priority. While we cannot provide immediate timelines for every request, please know that we are actively working on enhancements. We are excited about the progress we're making and will keep you informed with updates as more details become available. Your feedback has been instrumental in guiding our ongoing improvement efforts, and we are excited about the enhancements currently underway. We appreciate your patience and support during this process and look forward to providing a more refined and user-friendly experience. Thank you once again for your ongoing support and collaboration. Please feel free to ... with any further questions or suggestions. Best regards,

Rudra Panda joined a group

Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE) Logo
Health care and health information professionals collaborating to improve information sharing between health care technology systems.

Joel Pettis joined a group

Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE) Logo
Health care and health information professionals collaborating to improve information sharing between health care technology systems.
Hello IHE Canada members, The Sep 19th, 2024 IHE Canada Community Webinar material is available here: ... A recording of the meeting can be found through the following YouTube link: ... If you have any questions related to the meeting materials, please feel free to contact us. Thank you David & Helen
Hello IHE Canada Community Members, IHE Devices White Paper Published for Public Comment The IHE Devices Technical Committee has published the following new White Paper for public comment in the period from September 19 through October 19, 2024: • Infusion Pump IV Flush - Rev. 1.0 The document is available at https://profiles.ihe.net/DEV/index.html#1.2. Comments submitted by October 19, 2024 will be considered by the IHE Devices Technical Committee in developing the subsequent version of the white paper. Comments can be submitted at .... IHE Devices Technical Framework Supplements Published for Trial Implementation The IHE Devices Technical Committee has published the following updated supplements for trial implementation as of September 19, 2024: • Medical Equipment Management Device Management Communication (MEMDMC) - Rev. 1.5 • Medical Equipment Management Location Services (MEMLS) - Rev 1.5 The profiles contained within the above documents are available for testing at subsequent IHE Connectathons. The documents are available at https://profiles.ihe.net/DEV/index.html. Comments on these and all Devices documents are invited at any time and can be submitted at .... Best regards,

Evan Harris joined a group

Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE) Logo
Health care and health information professionals collaborating to improve information sharing between health care technology systems.
Dear IHE Canada Community Members, Reminder our first IHE Canada Community Webinar of this season is this Thursday, Sept 19th at noon time. Didi Davis (The Sequoia Project) and Laura Bright (LJB Consulting) speaking about "Advancing Interoperability for the Public Good in the US, Leveraging the IHE Proven Standards Adoption Process". IHE infrastructure is "under the hood" of this prenominal work. Didi and Laura will talk on the USA, IHE Standards-based Health Data Exchange growth and Success Story! Presenting on the journey and initiatives that are enabling the exchange of electronic health information across networks on a national scale. Speakers will touch upon governance, policy, and technical enablers for nationwide interoperability. You will learn what is required for connectivity across organizations to securely exchange information to improve patient care, enhance the welfare of populations, and generate health care value. The webinar panel will address: 1) The journey to nationwide sharing of health care data. 2) The principles of data sharing, and requirements to securely share information between different health information networks. 3) Why IHE Methodology works and is adopted? Please register in advance for this meeting, ...: infoway-inforoute.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAtceiqqD8rGdEO9Q2QqqgguWz2AXmIoTXi After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Our next webinar will be on Thursday November 21st at noon, "What goes on in an IHE Connectathon/Projectathon/Plugathon?". Details will soon be posted. Welcome back to a new season, David.

Forum

Update on Enhancement Requests for Terminology Server 09/25/24

Hi IHE Canada members, Infoway would like to provide an update on the enhancement requests we have received for our Terminology Server. We sincerely thank you for your valuable feedback and for taking the time to share your insights with us. We ap...

IHE Canada Community Webinar Sep 2024 Materials 09/20/24

Hello IHE Canada members, The Sep 19th, 2024 IHE Canada Community Webinar material is available here: ... A recording of the meeting can be found through the following YouTube link: ... If you have any questions related to the meeting materi...

IHE Devices Technical Framework Documents Published 09/20/24

Hello IHE Canada Community Members, IHE Devices White Paper Published for Public Comment The IHE Devices Technical Committee has published the following new White Paper for public comment in the period from September 19 through October 19, 2024...

IHE Canada Community Webinar this Thursday at noon 09/16/24

Dear IHE Canada Community Members, Reminder our first IHE Canada Community Webinar of this season is this Thursday, Sept 19th at noon time. Didi Davis (The Sequoia Project) and Laura Bright (LJB Consulting) speaking about "Advancing Interoperabil...

Display Standards for rendering Vitals in a User Interface. 09/15/24

SIIM/ACR have a technical standard for radiology, but I'm pretty sure it doesn't get into that sort of guidance. I'd suggest your best bet is to look to professional societies to see if they have standards of practice related to information display....

Display Standards for rendering Vitals in a User Interface. 09/10/24

Hi All, Our team is seeking guidance regarding display standards for Clinical Observations. Specifically, around Vitals. E.g., Respiratory Rate, Blood Pressure, Heart Rate, O2 Saturation. The HL7 FHIR model is a helpful framework for defining...

IHE North America (NA) Connectathon 2025 registration is now open ! 09/10/24

Dear IHE Canada Community members, The IHE North America (NA) Connectathon 2025 registration is now open, you will find the ... Please note there are several streams being planned for the 2025 IHE NA Connectathon Week, in addition to the IH...

IHE Canada Community Webinar Series 09/09/24

Apologies, for my "text-blob" post. The message format differs from my message on the InfoCentral editor! This is so much like HL7 V.2 segment text "blobs"! Very reader unfriendly. Webinar is next Thursday, Sept 19th at noon time. Please register...

IHE Canada Community Webinar Series 09/09/24

Dear IHE Canada Community Members, Our new season of IHE Canada Community Webinars begin next week. Didi Davis (The Sequoia Project) and Laura Bright (LJB Consulting) speaking about "Advancing Interoperability for the Public Good in the US, Levera...

IHE Radiation Oncology Technical Framework Supplements Published for TI 09/06/24

Hi IHE Canada Community Members, The IHE Radiation Oncology Technical Committee has published the following new Technical Framework Supplements for trial implementation as of September 5, 2024: • Treatment Delivery - Record Content Brachy (TDR...

Final Survey Reminder 09/05/24

Hi IHE members, Just a final reminder to complete this short survey to help us understand how to improve your experience in learning more about interoperability. Google Forms survey link: https://forms.gle/zjyB9MtphaQWtTkr6 Survey Monkey surv...

CA:CSD version 1.0.0 dft-preballot is available 08/29/24

I am pleased to announce the first draft (Version v1.0.0 DFT-preBallot) of the Canadian Care Service Directory (CA:CSD) FHIR spec has been published. This Pan-Canadian Healthcare Service Directory FHIR Implementation Guide provides standards an...

Survey Reminder 08/29/24

Hi IHE members, Just a reminder to complete this short survey to help us understand how to improve your experience in learning more about interoperability. Google Forms survey link: https://forms.gle/zjyB9MtphaQWtTkr6 Survey Monkey survey lin...

IHE News - August 2024 08/22/24

Hi IHE Canada Members, We are pleased to share some important IHE news and updates with you this August. 1. IHE Joins in Stewardship of International Patient Summary IHE International has supported the implementation of the International Pati...

Engaging with Interoperability Content 08/19/24

Infoway is looking to enhance how stakeholders learn about Infoway’s interoperability initiatives, status, timelines, access resources, express interest in participating, and link to additional resources including specifications and technical resour...

Documents

Click Manage documents to:

  • view the complete list of documents or documents grouped by folder
  • upload a new document

Note: Group members are not currently notified when new documents are added. To notify others, you must post the URL to the new document in the forum. (Notification of document uploads is a feature in development.)

Manage documents You may need to login and/or be a member of the group to access this content.

HL7_IHE_SDPI_E1_S2_2024MAY

Published on Apr 14, 2024 by Ron Parker

IHE 101

Published on Mar 04, 2020 by Derek Ritz

Video

A Collaborative Approach to Interoperability in Canada

Hello members of the Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise working group, If you were unable to attend Infoway's session on 'A Collaborative Approach to Interoperability in Canada' please find a recording of the presentation in the link below. Please feel free to contact us at: [email protected] if you have any questions. Sincerely, Interoperability Team

10/20/23

Members

David Kwan
Picture of David Kwan
Insygnia Consulting Inc.
OFFLINE
Contact
Tarek Kadoura
Picture of Tarek Kadoura
Canada Health Infoway
OFFLINE
Admin
Linda Monico
Picture of Linda Monico
Canada Health Infoway
ONLINE
Admin
Rudra Panda
Picture of Rudra Panda
Deloitte
OFFLINE
Member
Joel Pettis
Picture of Joel Pettis
Smile Digital Health
OFFLINE
Member
Evan Harris
Picture of Evan Harris
CGI
OFFLINE
Member
Dave Smith
Picture of Dave Smith
GNB - Dept of Health
OFFLINE
Member
Julia Tran
Picture of Julia Tran
n/a
OFFLINE
Member
Shoneth McBeath
Picture of Shoneth McBeath
NSHA
OFFLINE
Member
Marcia Jeffers
Picture of Marcia Jeffers
Centre for Distance Education
OFFLINE
Member
dominique boston
Picture of dominique boston
Canada Health Infoway
OFFLINE
Member
Maria HIlts
Picture of Maria HIlts
Michener Institute
OFFLINE
Member
Monief Eid
Picture of Monief Eid
Ministry of Health
OFFLINE
Member
Edmond Chiu
Picture of Edmond Chiu
Canada Health Infoway
OFFLINE
Member
Madeleine Juneau
Picture of Madeleine Juneau
CISSSCA
OFFLINE
Member

InfoCentral logo

Improving the quality of patient care through the effective sharing of clinical information among health care organizations, clinicians and their patients.