1 Scope
This part of ISO/TR 14639 provides a guide to best practice business requirements and principles for countries and their subordinate health authorities planning and implementing the use of information and communications technology (ICT) to support the delivery and development of healthcare. A business reference architecture is described in terms of components and capabilities that health authorities may use as a framework for building their own eHealth architectures and also for measuring the maturity of their health systems' use of ICT to support the delivery and development of healthcare.
It is worth noting that while this part of ISO/TR 14639 was developed with a particular view to support low- and middle-income countries, it can also be a useful guide for any country. Even if maturity is high in some aspects, highly developed countries may still need advice on architectural components for some aspects of a total eHealth system.
The development of eHealth architectures based on the guidelines set out in this part of ISO/TR 14639 will facilitate and optimize investments in Health Information Systems to achieve the following goals:
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a) information being used cost-effectively for improvement of health services;
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b) health information being harmonized, consistent, accessible, and able to be used effectively;
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c) patients, health professionals, and policy-makers having the right data available to make decisions about health services, treatment, and delivery of care;
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d) appropriate information being available to support evidence-based practice and health services planning, health services quality, and safety and to improve public health;
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e) improving accessibility to healthcare services;
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f) supporting harmonization of Health Information Systems and health information standards.
It is envisaged that this part of ISO/TR 14639 will be a valuable source of information for
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g) personnel responsible for health services policy, planning, and provision,
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h) those developing health information resources and eHealthpolicy at national and subordinate levels in a country,
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i) non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and others seeking to support or implement systems for information gathering, statistics, and care delivery in developing and emerging economies,
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j) developers and implementers of Health Information Systems and services,
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k) academic and research institutions and students in health informatics, and
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l) other stakeholders in the health sector.
This part of ISO/TR 14639 also proposes a maturity model and methodology that organizations may consider in developing and evolving their eHealth capacities in specified areas of operational capability from low to medium to high levels. The proposed business reference architecture identifies components and capabilities needed to support various health service activities along with the governance, infostructure, and ICT infrastructure that is necessary for the effective and efficient use of information in the delivery and development of health services.