HIQA has launched a public consultation on the development of eHealth interoperability standards. This six-week consultation aims to elicit views on as to where eHealth interoperability standards are required and where the work of HIQA and the eHealth Standards Advisory Group (eSAG) should be targeted.

Through its health information function, HIQA is working to ensure that high quality health and social care information is available to support the delivery, planning and monitoring of services. As part of this role, HIQA develops technical standards that support eHealth interoperability.

HIQA’s Director of Health Information and Standards Rachel Flynn said: “eHealth can enhance quality, accessibility and efficiency across all healthcare services through the secure, timely, accurate and comprehensive exchange of clinical and administrative data. To deliver these benefits, several key building blocks have to be put in place which can bring advantages in their own right and, together, provide the basis for building a robust eHealth infrastructure. One of these building blocks is a set of eHealth interoperability standards such as communication and terminology standards.”

To support the consultation process, a document has been prepared that provides background information on eHealth interoperability standards and a set of guiding principles that will govern HIQA’s work in this area. This consultation document has been developed in order to support interested people make submissions on which eHealth interoperability standards HIQA should develop over the next few years. Submissions will help inform HIQA’s work plan in this area.

Ms Flynn continued “HIQA is committed to stakeholder consultation and values all feedback provided as part of its standards development process. The consultation process will take place over a six-week period. In this way, the public, service users and service providers will have the opportunity to provide feedback and become involved in the future direction of standards development.”

The closing date for receipt of comments is 5 pm on Friday 22 September 2017.

ENDS

For further information contact: Marty Whelan, Head of Communications and Stakeholder Engagement, HIQA, 01 814 7480 / 086 2447 623, mwhelan@hiqa.ie

Notes to the editor

• Developing eHealth Interoperability Standards for Ireland: A Consultation Document can be found at www.hiqa.ie.
• The technical standards will be developed in conjunction with the eHealth Standards Advisory Group, which was established by HIQA to advise it when developing technical standards supporting eHealth interoperability.
• Two consultation questions are posed. These questions are not intended, in any way, to limit feedback — all other comments and more general feedback are welcome. The questions are:
  • Which area of work should be prioritised by the eHealth Standards Advisory Committee?
  • Please provide us with any general comments you would like to make in relation to this consultation document.