IHE International establishes fees for membership organizations

Not really, you've covered it well, Lynne.

That said, I believe there is sufficient additional value in being a member of IHE International, beyond just being able to use the specification, or in influencing its deployment via IHE Canada/Infoway. For example (and there are many), Canadians have made significant contributions towards enhancing IHE profiles in both the Diagnostic Imaging (SCWG10) and mHealth (Derek Ritz and Duane Bender) domains... and membership in IHE International would allow this great work to continue. With all of the emerging IHE activity popping up in Canada, it would be a shame if Canadians merely became "users" rather than "contributors"... just sayin'!

Good question, thanks for asking. It is still early days for IHE International, which has never charged fees before, so the details are still emerging. This is my understanding...
1. There is a annual fee for each National/Regional Domain committee that Infoway will pay. There are no fees for Canadian organizations that want participate in IHE activities co-ordinated through Infoway.
2. Organizations/individuals that want to participate in IHE International Domain Committees (to develop, influence, maintain IHE Profiles) will have to have a current IHE International membership .
3. No membership is required to use IHE profiles

That said, IHE International does good work in the interoperability space, and has limited sources of funding. The IHE benefactors, HIMSS and RSNA, require that IHE move towards self sufficiency. Many vendors and others participate and benefit from IHE's work, and we expect that these organizations will see value in helping to fund IHE activity through the modest annual membership fee and through active participation.

Michael N...anything to add?

How will this affect SC members?

In case you haven't yet received this news, IHE International is addressing its long term sustainability and this has resulted in the introduction of membership fees for the first time. The following is clipped from the IHE website.

---

IHE International is made up of member organizations who are stakeholders in improving the interoperability of healthcare information systems. Member organizations can designate representatives to participate in Domain Committees and National/Regional Deployment Committees relevant to their interests.

Starting July 1, 2015, IHE International will adopt a fee-based membership model, tiered by type and size of organization to enable all stakeholders to participate. The categories of membership and annual membership fees (in US dollars) are:
◦Vendors, for-profit providers and other for-profit organizations
•Large Organizations (more than 250 employees): $1,500
•Medium-sized Organizations (4 to 250 employees): $500
•Smaller Organizations (less than 4 employees): $250
◦Not-for-profit organizations and government agencies: $500
•Humanitarian non-profit organizations and government agencies in low- and middle-income countries (as classified by WHO): $250
◦Standards Development Organizations (SDOs): free reciprocal membership

Renewal notices will be distributed starting in mid-June to the primary contacts of each current IHE International member organization.

Organizations interested in applying to become members of IHE should complete the online form linked below. After completing the online form, applicants must submit a copy of the declaration, which binds the organization to the IHE Principles of Governance, including its intellectual property provisions, signed by a duly authorized representative of the applicant organization.