Item 3

Objective.

This item may be split within the following subitems

1. Think of independent healthcare provider “jury” at Connect-a-thon.
2. Have ISO certification of IHE Connect-a-thon process.
3. Contact some recognized testing bodies and invite them to Connect-a-thon

Analysis.

The connect-a-thon process needs better documentation and process.

There is no guarantee that the process is identical in all regions. What are the criteria to determine that a test is successful ? What if a vendor does not find any test partners ? There is a need for more description of the process and documentation.

Equality of the vendors : how to be fair with vendors and not neglect vendors that present a few number of actors when systems presenting many actors would like more monitor time.

Need for a clear definition of what is a system !

Need to define who can attend the connect-a-thon ! Visitors ? Avoid spying but do not neglect the social aspect of the event and still allow vendors to meet during the event !

Neutrality of the monitors during the connect-a-thon is a key issue.

• Selection process for the monitors
• Neutrality of the monitors

Results.

Better tools and test specification have been recognized and are handled in Item 4 and Item 5.

Enter the process of certifying the connect-a-thon !

Roadblocks.

Concerning the Certification, one of the roadblocks may be due to the fact that we are facing a yearly event. Certifying the connect-a-thon at the international level (at least between North America and Europe) may speed up the process. Indeed with 2 events a year, one could serve as a pre-audit for the other one !

Work breakdown: Actions and organization and timing

1. Identify relevant certification bodies in Europe and invite them to the next european connect-a-thon
2. Get some consultancy about certification. Identify the norm for the certification, is it ISO 9001 ? Identify what is to be certified ?

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