1. The HL7 RIM Harmonization Procedure Government Projects Special Interest Group January 27, 2000

2. The HL7 RIM Harmonization Process2 Inputs: Candidate change proposals for the RIM or MDF Most recent list of data types, attribute types, and domains Most recent version of the RIM Procedure Steps: Prepare RIM change proposal Review RIM change proposal with stewards of affected Classes Participate in RIM change proposal harmonization meeting Outputs: RIM change proposal Updated RIM RIM change proposal harmonization meeting notes Updated MDF

3. January 27, 2000The HL7 RIM Harmonization Process3 Prepare Change Proposals RIM change proposals are prepared by a Technical Committee or Special Interest Group in an effort to incorporate in the RIM revisions that have been introduced and discussed in the committee and the committee has agreed should be applied to the RIM. Organizations external to HL7 may introduce change proposals and critiques of the RIM by submitting the proposal/critique to the appropriate HL7 technical committee or special interest group for their consideration. The Modeling and Methodology Technical Committee (MnM) will provide assistance to external organization in preparing their proposal and in identifying the appropriate steward technical committees. The steward technical committee may choose not to sponsor the change proposal, if it does the proposal essentially dies in committee. Changes submitted by ANSI or ISO accredited standards development organizations (SDOs) may be sponsored by the Modeling and Methodology Technical Committee

4. January 27, 2000The HL7 RIM Harmonization Process4

5. January 27, 2000The HL7 RIM Harmonization Process5 Review RIM change proposal with stewards of affected classes For each RIM revision associated with a change proposal, identify the class(es) affected by the revision. For each class identify the steward Technical Committee. If the steward Technical Committee is not the same as the sponsoring committee, the sponsoring committee must arrange to obtain comments regarding the proposed revisions from the steward committee. The steward committee may favor or oppose the change. Comments from the steward committee are captured on the RIM change proposal form. The sponsor committee may be persuaded by the stewards to revise or withdraw the RIM change proposal. Once the RIM change proposal has been reviewed with the stewards for the classes affected, the sponsor committee may forward the change to the Modeling and Methodology Technical Committee for posting and tracking.

6. January 27, 2000The HL7 RIM Harmonization Process6 Proposed changes to the Reference Information Model have been received from the PAFM technical committee. The proposed RIM changes have been posted to the HL7 Web site and can be found at: http://www.hl7.org/library/committees/mnm/RIM1199. File name is: PAFM1.zip The proposed changes will be included in the harmonization discussions to be held on November 3-4 at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Any comment you may have in support or opposition to the proposed changes must be made no later than October 22. Comments may be addressed to the MnM list or directly to the MnM Co-Chairs: Ted Klein, cMore Medical Solutions (612)313-1500 Email: ted@tklein.com; Abdul-Malik Shakir, The Huntington Group, (510) 865-3900 Email: abdul-malik_shakir@idx.com; or Jane Curry, Alberta Health (780) 415-1408 Email: Jane.Curry@health.gov.ab.ca. To:Mnm; hl7 cc: Subject:RIM Harmonization Proposals Body:

7. January 27, 2000The HL7 RIM Harmonization Process7 Participate in RIM change proposal harmonization meeting The Modeling and Methodology Technical Committee schedules the RIM change harmonization meeting to occur between working group meetings. In scheduling the meeting, consideration is given to allow sufficient notice to potential attendees, to allow at least 30 days review of posted change proposals, and at least 30 days to apply and document accepted changes to RIM. Any HL7 member may attend the RIM change proposal harmonization meeting. Modeling facilitators and at least one steward representative per Technical Committee are encouraged to attend the meeting. Representatives from other ANSI or ISO accredited organizations are welcome to attend the harmonization meeting to introduce and discuss change proposals they have submitted. The co-chairs of the Modeling and Methodology Technical Committee facilitate the meeting. The sponsor of a RIM change proposal should be present to introduce, discuss, and answer questions concerning the proposed change. If the sponsor is not able to be present, it may designate a proxy to introduce the change or a representative from one of the affected steward committees may introduce it; otherwise the proposal is tabled.

8. January 27, 2000The HL7 RIM Harmonization Process8 Harmonization Privileges

9. January 27, 2000The HL7 RIM Harmonization Process9 Disposition of change proposal Discussion of a proposal may lead the representative from the sponsoring committee to revise, table, or withdraw the proposal. Proposals that are neither tabled nor withdrawn are put to a vote. There is one vote per Technical Committee. To approve a change proposal that is supported by the affected steward committees requires a simple majority. To approve a change proposal that is opposed by an affected steward committee requires a 2/3 majority for approval. Approved changes are applied to the RIM. Tabled changes may be re-introduced at a subsequent harmonization meeting. Rejected and withdrawn changes are returned to the sponsoring committee with comment. The disposition of all changes is noted on the change proposal. Notes from the harmonization meeting summarize the discussion and disposition of each RIM change proposal. A RIM change proposal may lead to revision of the MDF. Approved RIM changes which introduce new attribute types or data types will require updates to the MDF, as will approved changes which lead to the addition, revision, or removal of a style guideline.

10. January 27, 2000The HL7 RIM Harmonization Process10 Questions