Connectathon Overview IHE Workshop 2007 Chris Carr RSNA

2 What is a Connectathon? Face-to-face interoperability testing event Tests implementation of Integration Profiles: integration capabilities defined in IHE Technical Frameworks Testing structured and supervised by Technical Project Management Team Successful results recorded and published by event sponsors Used as preparation for demonstrations events Primary purpose: foster adoption of standards- based solutions in products

3 Connectathon

4 How did it originate? First radiology Connectathon was held in preparation for 1992 DICOM demonstrations DICOM committees and RSNA Electronic Communications Committee organized and staged event DICOM committees and RSNA Electronic Communications Committee organized and staged event

5 History 1998: First IHE Connectathon 1998-present: continual expansion of scope and participation 2001: First IHE-Europe Connectathon 2002: First IHE-Japan Connectathon 2005: First multi-domain North American Connectathon: Cardio, IT, Radiology Continual growth from 24 systems in 1998 to 150+ in 2006, plus annual European and Asian events

6 What are you preparing for? IHE Connectathon and Conference, Jan. 28-Feb 1, 2008 – Hyatt Regency Hotel and Conference Center, Chicago Testing of all transactions defined in Final Text Technical Frameworks and Supplements for Trial Implementation ( Testing of all transactions defined in Final Text Technical Frameworks and Supplements for Trial Implementation ( Cardiology Cardiology IT Infrastructure IT Infrastructure Laboratory Laboratory Patient Care Coordination Patient Care Coordination Patient Care Devices Patient Care Devices Quality Quality Radiation Oncology Radiation Oncology Radiology Radiology

7 Connectathon: Who should apply? Any company producing systems that fall under the scope defined in the IHE Technical Frameworks Users and consultants have a vital role as advisors and implementers of IHE, but do not participate in the Connectathon Recruiting Connectathon observers Recruiting Connectathon observers Intent of the Connectathon is to foster implementation of IHE capabilities in commercially available products

8 Early access to MESA tools and test plans Testing in controlled and validated environment with TPM oversight Objective success criteria for each actor Structured process with opportunities for additional cross-vendor testing Build relationships with industry peers Promotion of successful results in sponsor educational and outreach materials Qualify to participate in demonstrations at HIMSS Interoperability Showcase What do you get?

9 Does application include demos? No. IHE demonstration processes are separate from the Connectathon However, Connectathon participation is a pre- requisite for HIMSS Showcase However, Connectathon participation is a pre- requisite for HIMSS Showcase Demonstrations have separate applications and participation fees Demonstrations have separate applications and participation fees

10 Connectathon Results Tool contains Connectathon results from 2001 to present Part of the KUDU project management tool, developed in part by IHE Europe Development underway to build a new PRODUCT REGISTRY. Adds specific vendors product implementations of Integration Profiles

11 What do results signify? Successfully completed tests of IHE actors and integration profiles We do not publish failures We do not publish failures IHE is not a certification body Connectathon testing does not certify product compliance Participants are strongly encouraged to test real products and to quickly productize all IHE functions

12 Incentives to put IHE in products Satisfy customer interoperability needs in ways coordinated with rest of industry Connectathon Results and other sponsor promotions encourage customers to ask Integration Statements allow you to promote IHE capabilities Vendors self-publish their conformance to IHE Integration Profiles Vendors self-publish their conformance to IHE Integration Profiles User Handbook explains to users how and why to implement products with IHE capabilities

13 Integration Statements

14 Integration Statements on

15 Align development strategies for integration with industry competitors/peers Gain experience and credibility working in multi-vendor environment Coordinate implementation of integration standards Get MESA tools for pre-testing and as implementation aid Improve Product Development

16 Gain increased visibility in the marketplace Demonstrate and publicize open systems capabilities IHE publications and promotional efforts IHE publications and promotional efforts Sponsoring organizations annual meetings Sponsoring organizations annual meetings Build and strengthen business relationships with peers and goodwill with customers Improve Product Marketing

17 Submitting Application Application due Sept. 15, 2007, includes: Company Info/Contacts Company Info/Contacts Full list of Actors/Integration Profiles for each system, with any explanatory notes Full list of Actors/Integration Profiles for each system, with any explanatory notes Payment in full of registration fee Payment in full of registration fee Applications will be submitted through online registration tool (Kudu) System will generated printed application to be signed and submitted with payment

18 Connectathon Fees $4,000 for each system tested $4,000 for each domain participated in Rationale: Support cost of process for sponsoring organizations Support cost of process for sponsoring organizations Provide value for participants proportional to their investment Provide value for participants proportional to their investment Costs have remained stable for 4 years

19 What is a system? Any combination of IHE Actors that could be delivered as a product Cramming too many actors on one system makes life difficult for you and testing partners Cramming too many actors on one system makes life difficult for you and testing partners Sponsors and project managers exercise judgment as to allowable combinations Sponsors and project managers exercise judgment as to allowable combinations

20 What is a domain? Clinical or operational field with a particular set of interoperability issues Cardiology Cardiology IT Infrastructure IT Infrastructure Laboratory Laboratory Patient Care Coordination Patient Care Coordination Patient Care Devices Patient Care Devices Quality Quality Radiology Radiology Radiation Oncology Radiation Oncology Defined by which Technical Framework contains the transactions being performed

21 Exception to Domain Fee IT Infrastructure: No additional domain fees incurred for other domain systems (Cardio, Rad) implementing ITI profiles No additional domain fees incurred for other domain systems (Cardio, Rad) implementing ITI profiles No additional domain fees incurred for ITI systems used in profiles by other domains No additional domain fees incurred for ITI systems used in profiles by other domains

22 Sample Fee Calculation System/ProductDomainActor(s) Integration Profile(s) Special MRI Radiology Acquisition Modality Image Creator SWFCPI RadioPACSRadiology Image Manager/Archive PPS Manager Report Repository SWFRWF CardioPACSCardiology Image Manager/Archive PPS Manager Cath WF 3 systems x $4000 = $12,000 2 domains x $4000 = $8,000 Total $20,000

23 Conference Event Showcases Connectathon process to the broader community Provider Execs and Administrators Provider Execs and Administrators Vendor Execs Vendor Execs Government Agency Representatives Government Agency Representatives Other Organizations in EHR/RHIO Implementation Other Organizations in EHR/RHIO Implementation Presentations on interoperability topics Guided tours of testing area, structured interaction with participants

24 Conference Event One day event - Tues., Jan. 29 Registration fee will be modest: sponsors recover costs Planning for 200+ attendees (in addition to 300+ testing participants)

25 Conference Goals Raise visibility of IHE testing process Foster discussion of IHEs place in national EHR initiatives in US, Canada and elsewhere Increase knowledge in healthcare community of how and why to acquire IHE compatible systems Encourage participants to bring IHE capabilities to market

26 Questions?