HIMSS steps aside as standards group admin
The Health Information & Management Systems Society (HIMSS) will relinquish its role as Secretariat for the International Organization for Standardization’s Technical Committee 215 on Health Informatics, known as ISO/TC 215, the international technical committee focused on developing health informatics standards.
HIMSS, which has held this administrative role since 2003, will relinquish the duty on June 30, according to the Chicago-based organization. In addition, HIMSS will step down as administrator of the U.S. Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to ISO/TC 215, which coordinates U.S. technical experts and develops national positions on committee matters.
During HIMSS’ tenure, ISO/TC 215 has grown to represent 32 participating member countries, 20 observers and 39 liaison organizations. It has developed 89 standards, harmonized seven standards and initiated 129 projects now in process, HIMSS stated. In addition, U.S. TAG membership has expanded to 13 associations, five government agencies, 16 vendors and five universities.
Standards developed by ISO/TC 215 focus primarily on health informatics. The committee met twice yearly: once in a formal plenary session—where voting takes place and resolutions are written determining the direction of the work program—and once in an informal joint working group session.
As the U.S. member body to ISO, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) was awarded the Secretariat position of ISO/TC 215. ANSI is managing the transition from HIMSS to the American Health Information Management Association, the new secretariat sponsor for ISO/TC 215 and administrator of the U.S. TAG, according to HIMSS.
HIMSS, which has held this administrative role since 2003, will relinquish the duty on June 30, according to the Chicago-based organization. In addition, HIMSS will step down as administrator of the U.S. Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to ISO/TC 215, which coordinates U.S. technical experts and develops national positions on committee matters.
During HIMSS’ tenure, ISO/TC 215 has grown to represent 32 participating member countries, 20 observers and 39 liaison organizations. It has developed 89 standards, harmonized seven standards and initiated 129 projects now in process, HIMSS stated. In addition, U.S. TAG membership has expanded to 13 associations, five government agencies, 16 vendors and five universities.
Standards developed by ISO/TC 215 focus primarily on health informatics. The committee met twice yearly: once in a formal plenary session—where voting takes place and resolutions are written determining the direction of the work program—and once in an informal joint working group session.
As the U.S. member body to ISO, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) was awarded the Secretariat position of ISO/TC 215. ANSI is managing the transition from HIMSS to the American Health Information Management Association, the new secretariat sponsor for ISO/TC 215 and administrator of the U.S. TAG, according to HIMSS.