Healthcare interoperability standards compliance handbook: Conformance and testing of healthcare data exchange standards

Abstract

This book focuses on thedevelopment and use of interoperability standards related to healthcare information technology (HIT) and provides in-depth discussion of the associated essential aspects. The book explains the principles of conformance, examining how to improve the content of healthcare data exchange standards (including HL7 v2.x, V3/CDA, FHIR, CTS2, DICOM, EDIFACT, and ebXML), the rigor of conformance testing, and the interoperability capabilities of healthcare applications for the benefit of healthcare professionals who use HIT, developers of HIT applications, and healthcare consumers who aspire to be recipients of safe and effective health services facilitated through meaningful use of well-designed HIT. Readers will understand thecommon terms interoperability, conformance, compliance andcompatibility, and be prepared todesign and implement their owncomplex interoperable healthcare information system. Chapters address the practical aspects of the subject matter to enable application of previously theoretical concepts. The book provides real-world, concrete examples to explain how to apply the information, and includes many diagrams to illustrate relationships of entities and conceptsdescribed in the text. Designed for professionals and practitioners, this book is appropriate for implementers anddevelopers of HIT, technical staff of information technology vendors participating in thedevelopment of standards and profiling initiatives, informatics professionals whodesign conformance testing tools, staff of information technologydepartments in healthcare institutions, and experts involved in standardsdevelopment. Healthcare providers and leadership of providerorganizations seeking a better understanding of conformance, interoperability, and IT certification processes will benefit from this book, as will students studying healthcare information technology.