HL7, IHE formalize partnership

Health Level Seven (HL7) and Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise have finalized a charter agreement which both makes their relationship formal, but also will allow the organizations to leverage the others strengths. HL7's focus is on standards development whereas the industry-driven initiative Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise pushes for adoption of data exchange standards in clinical settings.
   
Through the expanded arrangement, the organizations will develop new standards or means by which to better make use of existing standards.
   
One of the most visible of the standards is HL7's Care Record Summary, for use with EMR (electronic medical records) systems as a best practice for clinical information being sent by healthcare organizations and providers. As a result of the charter agreement, vendors associated with Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise will demonstrate the Care Record Summary at the 2006 Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society Conference and Exhibition, Feb. 12-16th in San Diego.

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