AHIMA’s vision is to lead the advancement and ethical use of quality health information to promote health and wellness worldwide. Its content, resources, and expertise are available to anyone that has an interest or need for them, no matter where in the world they may work or reside. With advances in tools and technology, it is easier than ever to collaborate, contribute, learn and discover through online portals and education. Now more than ever, AHIMA’s members, partners and colleagues are being called to action to improve healthcare in all countries through an enduring goal of quality healthcare through quality information. AHIMA believes that expertise in health information management is necessary for the delivery of safe, effective, quality healthcare, and HIM associates are recognized around the world as a key member of the health care team.
AHIMA provides a platform for collaboration not only to be able to share its own expertise, but to allow its members and other professionals to learn from the wealth of knowledge available from colleagues around the world. In many cases, other countries have moved to new terminologies, classification systems, and best practices ahead of those in the United States, and there are lessons to be learned from those transitions. No matter where you call home, consider joining AHIMA today to connect, lead, learn, and grow and to make a difference in the management of healthcare information around the globe.
AHIMA is proud to serve as the ANSI-delegated Secretariat to ISO/Technical Committee 215 Health Informatics, and as Administrator of the United States (U.S.) Technical Advisory Group (TAG) 215, the delegation representing the U.S. to ISO/TC215.
The International Organization of Standardization (ISO) is the world’s largest developer and publisher of international standards. Working as a global federation, ISO brings together public and private sectors in nearly 200 countries to create consensus standards that provide business, government, and society with practical tools for economic, environmental, and social development. To date, over 19,000 ISO standards represent the work of more than 260 technical committees (TCs) in manufacturing, technology, security, pharmaceuticals, and many more, including health informatics. Global health informatics standards are developed under ISO/TC 215-Health informatics, for which AHIMA serves as delegated Secretariat. To date, ISO/TC215 has developed over 100 Health informatics standards which are available for purchase via the ISO website or the ANSI eStandards Store. and as Administrator of the United States (U.S.) Technical Advisory Group (TAG) 215, the delegation representing the U.S. to ISO/TC215.
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Established in 1998, ISO/TC215 has expanded its composition and influence, currently representing more than 30 Participating voting member countries [P-members], 23 Observing member countries [O-members], and 22 Liaison organizations. The mission of ISO/TC215 is to improve compatibility and interoperability between EHRs, PHRs, medical devices, and other products and technologies. TC215 focuses on standardizing Health Information and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to ensure compatibility of data for comparative statistical purposes, and to reduce duplication of effort and redundancies across healthcare, with specific focus on:
- Healthcare delivery
- Disease prevention and wellness promotion
- Public health and surveillance
- Clinical research related to health service
ISO standards development occurs in technical committees (TCs), which are populated by subject matter experts (SMEs) that are nominated to serve by their ISO-designated National Member Body (NMB). In a model similar to the United Nations and other representative global bodies, an ISO NMB is the national entity designated by its government as most representative of standardization in its country. Each country has only one NMB that is designated as the ISO member for that nation. It is the NMB from each country and their representative Technical Advisory Group (TAG) that identifies SMEs and delegates to serve in specific ISO Working Groups.
SMEs and delegates identified by their NMB are drawn from the industrial, academic, technical and business sectors identifying the need for the standard, and that subsequently put the standard to use. These experts and delegates may be joined by others with relevant knowledge, including representatives of government agencies and ministries, testing labs, and consumer associations, and by governmental and non-governmental organizations from across the globe. Additionally, ISO's 260+ TCs have formal Liaison relations with more than 600 international organizations from across the globe, which complement the network of its NMBs.
ISO/TC215 Working Groups (WGs) and Joint Working Groups (JWGs)
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WG1- Architecture
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WG2- Systems and Device Interoperability
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WG3- Semantic Content
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WG4- Security, Safety and Privacy
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WG6- Pharmacy & Medical Business
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JWG7- Application of risk management for IT networks incorporating medical devices – jointly with IEC/SC62
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JWG1- Informatics aspects of Traditional Chinese Medicine - jointly with ISO/TC246
Is your business or organization domiciled in the US and impacted by health informatics standards? Then consider joining the U.S. Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to ISO/TC215 to formulate positions and proposals on behalf of the U.S to ISO standardization activities.
As a professional community, AHIMA supports the growth and advancement of international health informatics standards and invites others to join us. Healthcare is a global community, and ISO/TC215 and its US TAG exist because of members who donate their valuable resources – people, money and time – to materialize the vision of standards-based, connected healthcare.
Opportunities for US TAG participation are a bit different from participation in ISO/TC-level WGs. The US TAG to ISO/TC215 accepts membership applications from interested organizations that meet membership requirements.
US TAG members represent a wide range of stakeholder communities including providers, government agencies, standards development organizations, associations, vendors and individuals to help inform, develop, and support the work of the US delegation to TC215. US Government members include The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA), The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American Dental Association (ADA), the American Association of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI), provider members include Kaiser Permanente, and vendor members include Siemens and GE Healthcare. Membership and dues run on an annual calendar cycle [January-December]. To learn more contact standards@ahima.org.
- Qualifications for Membership:
Meets the definition of a “U.S. National Interested Party” via an entity directly and materially affected by the relevant standards activity:
- An individual representing a corporation or an organization domiciled in the U.S. (including U.S. branch offices of foreign companies authorized to do business in one or more states as defined by the relevant State’s Corporation law within the U.S.);
- An individual representing a U.S. federal, state or local government entity; or
- A U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- Questions? We would love to talk to you. Please contact us at Standards@ahima.org
- Apply by downloading and completing a membership application
IFHIMA, or the International Federation on Health Information Management (formerly known as IFHRO), supports national associations and health record professionals to implement and improve health records and the systems which support them.
As the association which is representative of the national activities within the field of HIM in the United States, AHIMA may select one primary representative (Director) and one alternate representative (Deputy Director) to serve as the U.S. National Member. The Director serves on the General Assembly with full voice and voting rights. In the absence of the Director, the Deputy Director represents AHIMA at the General Assembly meeting held at the time of the triennial International Congress.
Learn more about IFHIMA Representative Selection and Responsibilities