HL7 UK is running a free one day conference on 9 February 2005 for NHS informatics professionals and clinicians who are playing a lead role in developing integrated IT systems in their local healthcare communities. The conference – the first of its kind – will concentrate on the requirements and challenges of developing interfaces between existing systems, local service provider (LSP) reference solutions and the National Programme for IT’s national applications. HL7, or Health Level 7, is a healthcare specific communication standard for data exchange between computer applications. The figure “7" refers to the fact that the protocol is designed to address the 7th layer of the International Standards Organisation’s Open System Interconnect model – the application layer. Conference organiser, Philip Firth, who is IM&T Strategy Implementation Manager at Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust and a Board member of HL7 UK, told E-Health Insider: "HL7 version 3 will play critical role in the delivery of the key pillars of the National Programme for IT (NPfIT), including Choose and Book, electronic transfer of prescriptions, the spine, and the NHS Care Record Service, including PACS. “This event is a good opportunity for NHS information professionals to share ideas and issues related to the use of HL7 communication standards and messages being implemented throughout the NHS in England." The conference will be held in London on February 9, 2005. Click here for more details. . Further information about HL7 can be found in E-Health Insider’s feature on the subject which includes an introduction to the subject for novices.
