[openEHR-announce] openEHR and IHTSDO - memorandum from the openEHR board

[Thomas Beale <thomas.beale@oceaninformatics.com>]

Today there was a press announcement on behalf of the openEHR Foundation and the IHTSDO, from the IHTSDO headquarters in Copenhagen, which has been copied to the openehr-announce list.

An agreement has been reached between the respective boards to collaborate in establishing a programme of practical efforts to take forward the harmonisation of openEHR clinical archetypes and SNOMED clinical terminology, as a contribution towards professionally assured clinical content for electronic health records. This follows requests made at the time of the intergovernmental conferences held in Copenhagen at the end of last year on health informatics standards. The future governance and scaling up of the Foundation’s activities are a key part of these discussions.

The announcement is also posted on the openEHR web site where you can find the papers issued at the time of the Copenhagen meeting. Further documents and requests to participate in work arising will be shared there as well.

The practical clinical work that follows will be what really counts, of course, but such an agreement and announcement is an important indicator, for us all, that perceptions about openEHR are changing throughout the world. We monitor the web traffic to our sites and know the geographical spread and interest of those briefing themselves on the Foundation and its work. That a community led initiative, kept going largely through voluntary efforts and private and academic financial support, can become and be seen to be a key partner in pursuit of such an important goal is a heartening sign.

We look forward to continuing our work with you to make a comprehensive and future-proof shared health record, based on open specifications, a practical clinical reality.

David Ingram, on behalf of the Foundation Board