Connectathon+2017

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= Connect Easily Now = =IHE Interoperability @ HIC 17 = =Call for participation. = = = = Download and view webinar presentation =

The goal of healthcare interoperability is to ensure that every individual and every provider can access an individual’s accurate and up-to-date health information at the right place and the right time, improving outcomes and transforming health and lives. Health information technology needs to communicate with other components within and across organisations.

Interoperability has many challenges - including adopting industry-wide standards, certification requirements and more. The challenges of evolving healthcare systems, models of care and technology require constant innovation to enable system connection. IHE is an international organisation with the systems and processes to bring together the healthcare community and information technology industry to connect different parts of the health system and the technology. IHE enables the standard implementation of business systems drawing on standards components, such as HL7 into interoperable systems.

=What is a Connectathon and Showcase? = IHE Connectathons are cross-vendor, live, supervised and structured testing events where industry leaders test implementations of IHE Profiles to advance health IT interoperability. All tests are evaluated on interoperability and conformance to IHE Profiles found in [|IHE’s Technical Frameworks] using the IHE International Gazelle, NIST and Australian testing tools. The test floor is overseen by IHE’s technical project managers providing a safe, neutral, accredited test environment and an unparalleled opportunity for industry collaboration and problem resolution. IHE Connectathons take place annually in various countries across the world to advance health IT and patient safety. This event provides Australian vendors an opportunity to participate in the global standards movement. These standards are relevant to Australian, New Zealand and S-E Asian e-Health economies and open opportunities for global deployment. The Connectathon also serves as the pre-requisite development and testing ground for the Interoperability @ HIC 17 Showcase which occurs 6 weeks later. IHE Showcases are practical demonstrations of connectivity using live applications connected over a local network, following a "script" that showcases both vendor capability as well as the value of interoperability to patient care. This event is run in the exhibition centre at the HIC 17 and in the past has reached the majority of conference attendees. In 2017 a key focus will be **medical device connectivity**, along with **IHE on FHIR,** in addition to the full range of IHE and HL7 profiles supporting **Health Information Exchange** and **individual health sector workflow.**

**Frequently Asked Questions:**
**1. We want to do the Showcase, do we need to go to Connectathon?** ** The Connectathon in Australia serves a dual purpose of conformance testing and preparation for the Showcase. To avoid glitches on "opening night" it is key to come to the rehearsals. - there is just one combined fee ** ** 2. We do the US or European Connectathon and Showcase - why should we come to Australia/Asia ** ** If your company has a market footprint in Australian or Asia then this event is a great way to build relationships with your industry collaborators and to connect with local Australian vendors who do not get to the international events. Many Australian sales and technical support engineers are unaware of the products interoperablity capability or how to effectively market "standards compliance". If thinking about market expansion this is a great way to look at the local context. ** =What is the IHE Interoperability @HIC 17 Showcase? =

IHE Showcases are a cross-vendor, live demonstrations of Health IT systems connecting to each other showcasing individual product features along with whole system functionality. Set at HISA HIC conferences in Australia, HIMSS in the USA and other major eHealth events, conference attendees become the patients for the showcase and the audience by participating in Scenarios mirroring real-llfe healthcare journeys.

This event at the HISA HIC 17 Exhibition provides opportunities to showcase products in action for HIC Exhibitors and also for vendors not participating in the exhibition. The showcase provides a demonstration focused desk and complements traditional exhibits where customers can be followed up and provided with marketing demonstrations and materials.

=Revisit the 2013 Showcase =

For those not familiar with IHE Showcase the above link leads to several explanatory resources as well as a walk-through of the 2013 Showcase at HIC in Adelaide. HIC 17 provides three opportunities for vendors to showcase their products and demonstrate connectivity and interoperability. As a package participation in the Connectathon, Showcase and HIC Exhibit provides benefits to:
 * **Product development** - developing and testing connectivity
 * **Connections** - an opportunity to work with collaborator vendors to create vital connections needed when working on real world implementations.
 * **Sales** - increasing familiarity of sales staff and potential customers with the product interoperability capabilities and opportunities to engage customers in real-live scenarios.
 * **Maximising investment in HIC 17 exhibition** - Previous Showcases reached well over 50% of conference attendees. The Showcase is the largest and most vibrant place on the exhibition floor with all day demonstrations attracting conference attendees and visitors. The Showcase can be connected with the traditional exhibitor stands and publicity which provides followup opportunities for those who see the product in action first.

=Focus for Interoperabilty @ HIC 17 =

At HIC 2016, a pre-conference half day workshop alerted HIC 2016 attendees to developments in interconnecting Patient Care Devices (PCD) to Electronic Medical records (EMRs), both in the hospital and the home. This event was very well attended indicating significant market interest in this area of health technology. PCD will form the core of the IHE 2017 Connectathon and Showcase.

The IHE 2017 events will focus on patient care device connectivity in addition to traditional IHE areas such as shared health records/health information exchange and medical imaging integration. There is high community interest in Medical device Connectivity and Security. Also we would like to cover new and emerging areas for IHE:
 * FHIR
 * DICOM Web (DICOM with Restful services)

Of course the Connectathon can cover any of the IHE profiles (subject to sufficient end to end vendor interest). The Showcase is where vendors can demonstrate their key product features while connecting with other systems. The Showcase can profile any approved health IT standards and is not limited only to IHE profiles.

To work out how your products might fit in - call IHE Australia's Clinical Informatics lead: Dr. Peter MacIsaac peter@macisaacinformatics.org 0411403462 = = =Sponsorship Opportunities: = The best way to support this event is to participate with one or more clinical systems. Failing that consider aligning your organisation with this event through sponsorship of the Interoperability @ HIC 17 or the HIC conference itself. For Connectathon and Showcase sponsorship opportunities contact Peter MacIsaac (IHE event manager) admin@ihe.net.au 0411403462 =Cost of participation = IHE funds these events through participant contribution and sponsorship. In previous years the cost of participation has been an average of $10,000 for both Connectathon and Showcase with fees tiered to enable smaller organisations to participate. As much of the cost is fixed, the “more that play” the less expensive for all. It is recommended that larger vendors budget $15,000 to cover the all inclusive costs of registration, and allow for travel and accommodation costs – planning for this in next year’s marketing and development **budgets is essential** = = = The planned cost for 2017 for participation in the Showcase, Connectathon is $11,000 (inc GST) and a $400/exhibitor badge fee for as many staff as required. =

=Key Dates: = = Showcase and Connectathon Webinar: (Select the date you wish to attend on the GoToMeeting Site) =

=Completed - [|download presentations]= = = == =Australian Connectathon 17: 3rd -7th July 2017 - Adelaide= = = = Interoperablity @ HIC 17 Showcase: 6 - 9th August 2017 - Brisbane=

=**For further information about participation and sponsorship:**= Peter MacIsaac admin@ihe.net.au 0411403462 Amanda Barbone (HISA events coordinator) hisa@hisa.org.au 0403 569 014