Architecture of health information systems. State of the art and new perspectives

In last years, requirements for health information systems have markedly increased. From essentially sectorial requirements limited to the single operational units, the need has emerged for the interaction and integration of the various components of the health care structure, within the service and over the territory. A major role in this evolutionary process is played by the architectural features of the information system. They must respond to precise requirements of standardization, modularity and openness so as to allow the integration and interaction of different, even if preexisting, applications and of different suppliers. In this article, some fundamental aspects of the architecture of health information systems are discussed based on actual experiences as well as on results of the principal approaches to standardization in Italy and Europe.