Moving on Without NEHTA – Some Really Good News!

As is probably well known to readers of this blog by now the Medical Software Industry Association (MSIA) held a round table late last week to try and work out how best it could try to move the e-Health agenda forward.

The forum addressed a range of issues and, from all reports, there was quite lively discussion on a range of matters.

Those interested in press coverage of the event can visit the following two articles from the IT section of last Tuesday’s Australian.

http://australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,21810268-15306,00.html

Ill feeling over health forum snub

Karen Dearne | May 29, 2007

FOUR overturned chairs on the podium marked the absence of National E-Health Transition Authority representatives at a Medical Software Industry Association roundtable in Sydney last week.

Leading software developers were stunned to learn that NEHTA had declined to attend, citing late notice, as the event was supposed to be a relationship-building exercise.

NEHTA communications manager Lisa Smith wrote a letter advising that the agenda placed "an emphasis on reviewing NEHTA's activities, so it would have been appropriate to seek our input into the agenda, and confirm our involvement, prior to its public circulation".

Ms Smith said "NEHTA would like to encourage the MSIA to take a positive and collaborative approach", but "given the circumstances, we are not in a position to contribute speakers or attendees at this late stage".

….. (see the site for full article)

And

http://australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,21810270-5013040,00.html

Working group on medi-ware

Karen Dearne | May 29, 2007

THE Medical Software Industry Association has formed a working group on messaging systems to overcome interoperability problems.

Health informatics consultant Peter MacIsaac said commercial messaging providers were offering reliable services, but "their systems are based on a range of communications standards and business models".

"Vendors will work on a technical solution so that GPs, specialists, pathology and radiology services and hospitals can contract with one messaging provider and have interoperability with all parties," Dr MacIsaac said.

….. (see the site for full article)

While the first article describes, in graphic detail, the session where some quite passionate criticism regarding the current performance of NEHTA was made (including a small contribution from yours truly) I believe the second piece of news is far more important – despite the fun that was had by almost all with ‘NEHTA bashing’. (Late Update - it seems the May 29 NEHTA Vendor Forum has done little if anything to improve things.)

In a communiqué released after the meeting shows that the vendor community is so sick of the way they are not being led by NEHTA they are moving on their own.

Essentially, for the first time Medical Objects, HealthLink, eClinic and Argus are going to work to ensure that a HL7 message carrying clinical information from one messaging provider can reliably be delivered to users of the other clients – so that – once the work is done – the practitioner will need only one messaging client and all will benefit.

At present the open working group is being sponsored by MSIA, the Health Informatics Society of Australia (HISA) and HL7 Australia. I understand the developers of Medical Director Software (HCN) are also now involved.

The approach to achieving interoperation is via the Integrating the HealthCare Enterprise (IHE) methodology. This approach emphasises the use of current, proven standards and rigorous testing via so called ‘Connectathons’ to ensure connectivity is fully and reliably achieved. I also understand the Australian Healthcare Messaging Laboratory (AHML) will assist in certification of communication safety and reliability.

Initially the scope of the messaging will be pathology and radiology messaging but this can be expected to expand (to cover prescribing and referrals for example) once initial success is achieved.

The planned time frame to achieve a final demonstrable outcome is the August 2008 HISA meeting.

I see this development is wonderfully and unequivocally good news (amidst a range of other more gloomy goings on) and I wish the working group all possible success. Of course it will be vital that the promises made are actually delivered – I hope so..but it won’t be easy!

David.