HL7 UK to hold NHS systems interoperability seminars

HL7 UK, the promoter of healthcare interoperability standards, have announced they are to hold a series of free one-day seminars across June and July in Birmingham, York and London to promote healthcare systems interoperability.

The events are aimed at NHS IT professionals and are designed to communicate the capabilities and best practice for the sharing of healthcare information.

Philip Scott, who is organising the seminars, and works as a head of IT projects & development at Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “These seminars have been designed to help communicate and share best practice across the NHS. More than ever, healthcare computer systems have to co-exist and exchange data and meaning. This requires both robust standards and reliable integration software.

“Our intention with these seminars is to demonstrate the technologies that exist within our market and provide a supportive network for NHS IT professionals across the UK. The members of HL7 UK have long-benefited from this insight, and we want to extend these benefits across the rest of the healthcare community.”

Presentations at the roadshows will be made by HL7 members from the NHS and the private sector, including Sun, InterSystems, Orion and Sentillion and the London event will also see the addition of Fujitsu – giving a local service provider perspective on integration and their services in this area.

The seminar programme will feature talks and demonstrations by a range of suppliers of real world integration technologies, insight into patient context management – the ability to synchronize patient selection between multiple applications, an introduction to Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE) and an overview of the HL7 standard.

There will also be a presentation on the role of HL7 as an enabling standard in the National Programme for IT for the NHS in England

The event road show kicks off on 6 June in Birmingham, and two further events will be held on 4 July in York and 24 July in London. Those wishing to register to attend the free seminars need to visit www.hl7.org.uk and follow the registration guidelines.