A new process is now available for clinicians, standards experts, and implementers to propose changes to the International Patient Summary “suite” of standards.
The International Patient Summary (IPS) is a standardized set of basic clinical data, supported by a “suite” of standards artefacts, that includes the most important health and care related facts required to ensure safe and efficient exchange of a patient’s health data across geographic borders, organizations, and health systems, independent of the country, clinical specialty, or medical condition.
The publication of IPS artefacts began in 2018, with regular subsequent updates. At the 2021 UK G7 Summit, health leaders embraced the IPS, underscoring the vital importance of digital health interoperability in delivering safer, more effective care for patients around the world. In the years since, this vision has been entrusted to the Global Digital Health Partnership (GDHP), a collaboration of governments and organizations working to align digital health efforts globally. This collaboration has boosted the uptake of the IPS across the globe.
The IPS has been adopted by a growing number of countries and organizations, including countries in the Middle East and South East Asia, (most notably the annual Hajj pilgrimage); Latin America and the Caribbean; Brazil; New Zealand; the European Union, and Canada. With heightened uptake of the IPS globally, it’s critical for implementers to have a mechanism to propose changes to the IPS to ensure the standards remain relevant, accurate and globally applicable.
A committee of the Joint Initiative Council for Global Health Informatics Standardization (JIC), the IPS Coordination Committee (IPSCC), provides a dedicated open forum for collaborating standards development organizations. Through the IPSCC they coordinate their advancement of the IPS suite of standards. IPSCC membership includes, but is not limited to, representation from: CEN/TC 251, HL7 International, IHE International, ISO/TC 215 and SNOMED International.
All stakeholders are encouraged to propose changes based on their real world experience with the IPS. Such proposed changes can include, improvements and corrections to existing IPS standards, enhancements to the scope of standards, or the addition of new standards to support the implementation and use of the IPS.
Current JIC Chair, Dan Vreeman (HL7), notes that as the IPS continues to gain traction globally and as it becomes more broadly deployed, it is easier to identify aspects of the IPS that require improvements, tweaks and enhancements. “We thank the pioneers who were among the first to adopt and deploy the IPS as they are well-positioned to provide feedback and suggest ways as we continue to evolve the process.”
IPSCC Chair, Robert Stegwee (CEN), offers, “The IPS Coordination Committee is committed to provide transparent guidance and alignment for the ongoing development of the IPS. Real-world experience is invaluable in helping maintain the standards’ relevance, accuracy and usability, and it is through this new “Change Proposal” process that we strengthen our ties to users around the world.”
Visit the International Patient Summary website to propose a change and contribute to the ongoing development of the IPS.
ABOUT THE JIC
The Joint Initiative Council on Global Health Informatics Standardization (JIC) is a collaboration of SDOs that seeks to enable common, timely digital health standards by addressing and resolving issues, gaps, overlaps, and redundant standardisation efforts.
ABOUT THE IPSCC
The IPS Coordination Committee brings together global standards development organizations to guide and align the standards artefacts that constitute the International Patient Summary (IPS). By coordinating across standards bodies, the IPSCC ensures the IPS remains a trusted, consistent, and globally applicable standard for the safe exchange of essential health information.