[New-ITS] highlights from the WGM

[Sato Laura]

All,

 

An informal de-brief with some highlights re the new ITS discussions at
the Boca Raton HL7 WGM, for those who weren't there (Grahame, Charlie or
others, please feel free to correct or enhance this 'report'):

 

*	MnM session 1 - Interestingly, after a review of most of the
content in the ITS paper, a straw poll at the end of the session
indicated that no one in the room (with 40-odd people) preferred to
stick with the current XML ITS (no change).  The room was divided,
however, between those who wanted only one standard serialisation based
on the RIM and those who wanted an option between two 'levels' of
standard serialisation (one RIM-based, plus one which is more
domain-specific, determined by the relevant technical committee) as long
as it was possible to cleanly transform between the two.  The latter
option was suggested by Lloyd McKenzie.  Personally, I don't think the
issues between having one or an option between two serialisations had
been explored fully enough to take the split between these straw vote
opinions too seriously, BUT, I think it is significant that no one in
the room was interested in maintaining the status quo (and also that
everyone seemed to see a benefit to a more stable and generic
serialisation, even if more abstract).  The use of specific or local
XUMs in mapping from V3 to local data stores was also noted (i.e. the
use of XUMs beyond serialisation).  

 

*	MnM session 2 - Grahame proposed that ADL be used to constrain
V3 data types.  It was agreed that it would be worthwhile to investigate
and further clarify the proposed use of ADL in V3.

 

*	InM - Grahame was (literally) applauded for his work on the new
ITS.  It was noted that some elements within the ITS paper would be
improvements for any ITS (i.e. not specific to XML / UML).  Also, the
data types change proposals were reviewed, but no decisions were made -
Grahame said he would release the data types paper to the international
lists (this had not been done prior to the WGM).  Grahame noted that the
intent of the new ITS was to provide at least one V3 model and schema
upon which implementers can 'hang their hats' as a true implementation
model.  One person further observed that the use of UML and having
explicit implementation modelling would be a great improvement from the
current situation, where the only thing anyone could 'hang a hat' on is
in a 'secret language', the MIF.

 

*	HL7 Board - a brief update on the investigation was given to the
Board.  A key point that the presentation team tried to stress was that
V3 products would be much more implementation-friendly if
specifications, example applications, and test packs were all developed
and released in parallel.  One Board member, Dan Russler, expressed
appreciation for the ITS investigation's approach and indicated that his
organisation, Oracle, also had experimental work they would like to
share with us.  We reported that the next steps for the new ITS were to
test the ideas, hopefully with the help of HL7 / UK members and NPfIT
suppliers.

 

I'd also like to take this opportunity to thank Grahame for his
superlative technical leadership on this work, on behalf of NHS CFH.
Still lots of work to do, but I was very impressed by the level of
acceptance the proposals received in MnM and InM in their first
presentation, and I think this was due to the thoroughness of the
analysis and Grahame's leadership in the discussions.

 

 

Best regards,

Laura

_________________________

Laura Sato

Informatics Standards Lead

 

Communications & Messaging

NHS Connecting for Health

Mobile: (44) (0)7733 324 338

Email: laura.sato at cfh.nhs.uk <mailto:laura.sato at cfh.nhs.uk> 

www.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk

Please note on the 9th October 2006 my email address will change to
laura.sato at nhs.net <mailto:laura.sato at nhs.net> 

 

 


This e-mail is confidential and privileged. If you are not the intended recipient please accept our apologies; please do not disclose, copy or distribute information in this e-mail or take any action in reliance on its contents: to do so is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. Please inform us that this message has gone astray before deleting it. Thank you for your co-operation.


-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.hl7.org.uk/pipermail/new-its/attachments/20060920/5c28c7c4/attachment-0001.htm