International Council
This group supports the HL7 mission to create and promote its standards by helping to assure that the needs, issues and other input of all HL7 International Affiliates are recognized and effectively acted upon by the HL7 organization.
Making a global contribution
The International Committee provides a forum for the HL7 International Affiliates and other interested HL7 members to communicate and exchange views as well as discuss issues regarding the international development, adoption, application and implementation of the HL7 standard. There are several ways to get involved with the international HL7 effort and get your ideas and opinions heard:
- The International Committee holds a full day meeting at every HL7 Working Group Meeting - usually on the Sunday before the main meeting begins. This is an open meeting, and all affiliate representatives and other interested HL7 members are invited to attend and contribute.
- There is an International Committee list server, which is open to all for discussion and sharing of ideas.
- Once a year, the committee organises the IHIC (International HL7 Interoperability Conference), which provides a forum for HL7 representatives from around the world to come together and share their experiences. In August 2006, the IHIC was held in the beautiful German city of Cologne (or, more correctly, Köln) and participants were asked to share their perspectives on the reality of using HL7 in their own countries, resulting in a diverse range of presentation topics from an equally diverse range of countries.
- There is also a newly established 'interim' affiliates report which will be compiled and circulated in the intervening periods between working group meetings. This will be an opportunity for all affiliates (especially those who are unable to make it to every face-to-face meeting) to let the world know what they are planning and implementing in HL7, and to ask questions or seek advice from the committee or from the HL7 world at large. This report will be circulated via the committee list server, and archived here for posterity.
Links
The HL7.org International Affiliates web page: Contact information for co-chairs and affiliate representatives - Mission/Charter statements - List server subscription - Affiliate agreements - Meeting minutes and other documentation
