Updates of Profiles to FHIR STU3
Like prior work on Updates of Profiles to FHIR DSTU2 now is the time to update the existing IHE Profiles to FHIR STU3.
FHIR is about to release their STU3 version (Standard for Trial Use - revision 3). This is the result of the STU3 ballot, and would be the stable release to use for the coming year. Thus 2017 use of FHIR should focus on STU3 version, and use of DSTU2 should decline. IHE will be upgrading our Profiles that utilize FHIR to STU3 this spring. These Profiles are in "Trial Implementation" stage. Please recognize that IHE profiles can not go to "Final Text" when the standard they are constraining are not normative, so our profiles on FHIR need to continue to follow FHIR. Also note that IHE "Trial Implementation", and HL7 "Standard for Trial Use" are an important lifecycle step, where any concerns with the specification should be directed toward the improvement of that specification, while improvements do not need to be backward compatible. The next ballot of FHIR will likely be in early 2018, and HL7/FHIR hope that core portions of that ballot will be able to emerge as Normative. FHIR specification includes indication of maturity evaluation on each resource - "FHIR Maturity Model" (FMM).
For the most part, the existing IHE Profiles that utilize FHIR will need only have "DSTU2" replace by "STU3". This simple string replacement recognizes that there are technical changes between DSTU2 and STU3; but that these technical changes are not specific to the purpose of the IHE Profile. Note that STU3 and DSTU2 are not compatible, although there are toolkits (e.g. HAPI) that can support both at the same time.
IHE is also looking to better represent the IHE profiles using HL7/FHIR tooling and registry (i.e. fhir.org). More news on this to come.
The IHE plan to align on STU3:
IT Infrastructure
- MHD -- simple update to STU3. No major changes. A few improvement CP will be addressed
- PDQm -- simple update to STU3. No major changes.
- RESTful Query on ATNA -- simple update to STU3. No major changes
- mACM -- simple update to STU3. No major changes
- PIXm -- need to re-assess if use-case is satisfied by FHIR defined MPI methods
- Appendix Z -- simple update to STU3
PCC
Radiology
- MHD-I -- major re-design in cooperation with major efforts within FHIR Imaging.
Please address the technical committee co-chairs with any concern with this plan.
Sincerely, IHE-on-FHIR leadership