Registrations for Kyoto HL7 Working Meeting open

The registration for the May 2009 Working Meeting in Kyoto is open. See the HL7 Australia web site for details and links.

IHE International Board approves the "Australian IHE Deployment Committee"!

On February 12, 2009 the IHE International Board formally approved "IHE Australia"! This means that Australia now has a formal "Deployment Committee" of IHE International and has a seat on the IHE International Board.

The founding organisations have formed the IHE Australia Founding Board as follows:

- Medical Software Industry Association (MSIA): Vince McCauley
- HL7 Australia: Klaus Veil
- Health Informatics Society of Australia (HISA): Jon Hilton
- Royal Australian New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR): Peter MacIsaac

The IHE Australia Founding Board nominated Vince McCauley as its Chair and will be seeking to expand the organisational membership in the near future. IHE Australia will also continue to pursue the formation of the "IHE Asia-Pacific" group.

Our thanks go to IHE International Board members Chris Lindop (GE, USA) and Todd Cooper (BSF, USA) for their support in navigating the administrative approval process - they will continue to assist us in establishing an effective and well-governed local IHE organisation.

The consensus of the Board is that the 2008 IHE events were substantial and successful steps forward and planning for 2009 has commenced: www.IHE.net.au/2009.htm

Happy Christmas and an Interoperable New Year!

As the Festive Season approaches, the IHE Australia Management Committee would like to thank all who supported and participated in the IHE activities in Australia in 2008:

The 1st Australian IHE Connectathon held in Canberra at the end of July (www.IHE.net.au/Open-Day.htm & www.IHE.net.au/WebServices-Forum.htm) at which 11 vendors tested 18 products and achieved 41 successful product tests.
4 Australian products now have an internationally recognised IHE "golden tick" (see www.IHE.net.au/Results-2008.htm)
9 products tested successfully to the exploratory Australian "Diagnostic Reporting" profile

- The 4th Interoperability Showcase held in August 31 - Sept. 3 in Melbourne as part of the HIC'08 and Health-e-Nation Industry Exhibition (see www.IHE.net.au/Showcase-2008.htm)

Our special thanks go to Chris Lindop who supported and guided us through the first IHE Connectathon held in Australia and the volunteers who spent many days and nights helping to make the Connectathon and Showcase happen. Our thanks also go to the HISA event managers who worked hard in the background to ensure everything ran smoothly.

The feedback from the 2008 events has been very positive and the Management Committee has commenced planning for the 2009 IHE events. The 5th Interoperability Showcase will be held as part of the Industry Exhibition at HIC'09 on 19-21 August, 2009 in the National Convention Centre in Canberra. As per the feedback from this year's participants, we are planning to hold the 2nd Australian IHE Connectathon ~6 weeks prior, so in early July 2009.

The Management Committee has already received many Expressions of Interest for the 2009 Connectathon and Showcase, so please send us an e-mail if you or your organisation would like to support or participate in the 2009 IHE events.

Again, many thanks to all who contributed to the success of the IHE work in 2008. Best wishes for Peaceful Christmas and Happy New Year!