Global Health Informatics Standardization

Note: Following deliberations of the TC215 leadership, it was resolved to transition the harmonization activities into a new structure.  The new web site of the Joint Initiative Council is www.JointInitiativeCouncil.org.  This web site will therefore not be further updated and remains as an archive only.  (April 2010)

Joint Initiative for Global Health Informatics Standardization

The Joint Initiative on SDO Global Health Informatics Standardization has been formed to enable common, timely health informatics standards by addressing and resolving issues of gaps, overlaps and counterproductive standardization efforts through:

1. A mutually agreed upon and used decision process for international standardization needs;
2. Coordinated standards strategies and plans, with the future goal of making all standards available through ISO;
3. An integrated work program; and
4. Focused, specific resolution of overlapping or counteracting standards within the participating SDOs' existing work programs.

The Joint Initiative Charter provides the basis, purpose and structure of the Joint Initiative on SDO Global Health Informatics Standardization. Download Charter (August 2007)

Joint Initiative Council (JIC)

This Council, operating as a council of equals and as liaison group under ISO/TC 215, consists of the respective leaders and appointed liaison members of the participating SDOs to a maximum of 3 members per SDO.

The founding SDOs CEN/TC 251, ISO/TC 215 and HL7 launched their inaugural Joint Initiative Council and Joint Working Group at a meeting hosted by ISO/TC 215 in Brisbane, Australia, in August 2007.  CDISC joined the Joint Initiative Council in 2008.

Joint Working Group

The Joint Working Group is hosted by ISO/TC 215 and operates at the direction of the Joint Initiative Council to provide the discussion, liaison, advisory and communication forum for achieving the goals of the Joint Initiative on SDO Global Health Informatics Standardization.  The Joint Working Group is co-chaired by representatives of CEN/TC 251, ISO/TC 215 and HL7 as identified by the Joint Initiative Council. Download Terms of Reference (October 2007)

Joint Working Group Meetings

• August 2007 at the ISO/TC 215 meeting (download minutes)
• October 2007 at the CEN/TC 251 meeting (download minutes)
• 23 February 2008 at HIMMS (download minutes)
• 30 May 2008 at the ISO/TC 215 / CEN/TC 251 Health Informatics Joint Meeting, Goteborg, Sweden  (download minutes)
• 14 September 2008 at the HL7 Plenary and Working Group Meeting, Vancouver, Canada  (download minutes, download presentation)
• 12 October 2008 at the ISO/TC 215 and CE/TC251 meeting, Istanbul, Turkey  (download minutes)
• 11 January 2009 at the HL7 Working Group Meeting, Orlando, USA (download agenda)
• April 2009 at the Joint ISO TC 215 / CEN TC 251 Meeting, Edinburgh, Scotland
• 20 September 2009 at the HL7 Plenary and Working Group Meeting, Atlanta, USA
• October 2009 at the ISO TC 215 Meeting, Durham, USA

Joint Working Group Work Documents

The Joint Working Group is a planning, process determination and coordinating group that makes recommendations to the Joint Initiative Council on resolving gaps, overlaps or issues of counterproductive standardization.

Documents tabled for discussion in the Joint Working Group as at May 1 2008 include:

• Joint Initiative Processes – Overview. An overview of SDO processes and processes for common/harmonized Standards development (normative Standards) V2.1 draft for comment (download)
• Joint Initiative Processes – Detail. Detail of Joint Initiative processes and processes for common/harmonized standards development (normative Standards) V2.1 draft for comment (download)
• Joint SDO work program inventory, version 1.2 (download)
• Detailed Clinical Models: Report of a workshop held in Brisbane, August 25, 2007 (download)
• Joint SDO work program inventory, version 2.1 (download)

More Information

HL7's Collaboration with ISO and JIC: www.HL7.org/participate/isojic.cfm

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