Medical device interoperability: overview of key initiatives

"...A seamless flow of information between many disparate devices over a network and to/from intended recipients." Sounds great-where do I sign up? In this article, Bridget Moorman, president of BMoorman Consulting, LLC, shines light on various medical device interoperability initiatives. This is one of those articles to cut out and save. Bridget has great ideas on how to keep track of these efforts, especially tracking how your institution fares in device interoperability. Not only can this help with making quick technology assessments and aid future technology planning, it can help to produce a report to show the C-suite where you stand in terms of interoperability. Include information such as what you can and cannot connect with in an "interoperability tracking report". This article is a great summary of these initiatives. Keep in mind that AAMI's proposed new IEC 80001 standard about risk management for IT networks also provides important guidance for ensuring safety of interoperable systems. The standard is expected to be published by the end of 2010.