How Does IHE-Europe work?

IHE-Europe is dedicated to creating a seamless flow of patient information between IT systems of different healthcare systems and achieving interoperability between IT environments manufactured by diverse vendors.

By promoting core requirements IHE-Europe is able to take into account differences between EU Member States and at once apply shared standards for existing systems while also enabling manufacturers to develop and market products at the European level with only minor variations.

IHE in Europe shares an organizational structure that coordinates activities and development of common standards with IHE North America and IHE Asia and Oceania. IHE-Europe is an active participant to the international Strategic Development Committee, the broadest oversight body of IHE-International, that oversees adherence to goals and guidelines, communication and coordination among domain committees and harmonizes diverse national and regional initiatives.

IHE-Europe is a not-for profit organization initiated jointly by the European Association of Radiology (EAR) and the European Coordination Committee of the Radiological, Electromedical and Medical IT Industries (COCIR). IHE-Europe has won the participation of hospitals, health authorities and medical societies and is supported by many sponsoring organisations and companies.

IHE integration profiles have been adapted by National and Regional projects in countries such as Austria, France, Italy and The Netherlands. These specifications provide the necessary guidance to implement the specific standards and profiles in commercial and self-developed systems that will help realize efforts towards large scale interoperability of health information in Europe and worldwide.

Activities of IHE in Europe

To achieve its purpose, IHE-Europe develops workflow descriptions and associated integration profiles in specific healthcare domains based on user requirements as well as the testing software (MESA tools) required to support vendors in developing interoperability.

IHE-Europe also organizes live interoperability testing between vendors at the Annual Connectathon and follow-on live interoperability demonstrations. Educational activities, such as study days, promotional activities, such as Success Stories.

Finally, serving as a voice for European interests, IHE-Europe coordinates IHE development worldwide with IHE initiatives for North America, Asia and Oceana in the international IHE organizational structure.

Organizational Structure of IHE in Europe

To fulfill its tasks and purposes IHE in Europe uses the following organizational structure:
- The General Assembly
(See statutes) - Formal meeting of all members twice per year.
- The Steering Committee
The Steering Committee is the overall governing body of IHE-Europe.
- The Chairs of the European IHE Committee
IHE-Europe is represented by the executive board with two Co-Chairs and two past Co-Chairs of the European IHE Committee, two representing the vendors, two representing the users of IT systems in health care.
- The IHE Europe Technical Manager
The Steering Committee appoints the IHE European Technical Manager, responsible for the organisation of the technical aspects of IHE activities in Europe including the (technical) organisation of the annual European Connectathon.
- The IHE-Europe Secretariat
The European IHE Committee may appoint a person or organization to organize the day to day business of IHE-Europe. The Secretariat will report to the European IHE Committee about its activities. The Secretariat will organize the day to day activities in coordination with the IHE-Europe Chairmen and the IHE European Technical Manager. The IHE-Europe Secretariat will be represented by the IHE-Europe Secretary.