Introduction

Abstract

Perhaps the biggest impediment to achieving reliable and interoperable healthcare information systems is the absence of widespread standards adoption; and not just standards, but standards that are clear and unambiguous. These standards must provide precise specifications in a language that can be universally understood and interpreted---the language of conformance. This conformance language provides the means and constructs for defining requirements and solutions exactly and consistently so that systems, products, etc. can achieve conformance that ultimately leads to interoperability. These means and constructs are embodied in the principles of conformance, the subject and focus of this book.