Implementation SIG Future Discussion Points and Possible Next Steps David Markwell Head of Education

Implementation SIG – Issues and Opportunities Changes in IHTSDO governance and advisory structures mean Implementation SIG no longer reports to a Standing Committee Beverly Knight has reached the end of her term as SIG Chair The SIG needs a new Co-Chair to support Amy Sheide in her role as Chair. Without the I&E Committee there is no formal way to select a replacement During the last year The I&E Team (Linda Bird and I) have been overcommitted to getting E-Learning running so we have not focused sufficiently on the future of the SIG The SIG has focused mostly on one topic (allergies) rather than on the broader landscape of implementation E-Learning developments and Implementation SIG webinars have potential synergies that have yet to be exploited There is an small loyal core of active SIG members but a need for wider engagement in the group to spread the benefits Those taking/completing the E-Learning course on Implementation are potential new members for the group

Options Considered … (1) Should Implementation SIG become an Implementation Advisory Group? Current view is probably not … because The perceived requirement is for an open implementation community group rather than a group with a formal membership (as specified in the Advisory Group Manual) This does not preclude the group providing advice but it does a formal advisory role would be more likely to constrain membership and activities of the group

Options Considered … (2) Should the group continue as in past but with the formal reporting route directed to Vendor Liaison Forum, Member Forum or some other body? Current view is probably not … because While VLF and MF have their own interests in aspects of implementation these interests are likely to be driven by commercial or national priorities – rather than by the freer thinking of a more open group Thus this approach to formal reporting would probably not be the best way to harness the enthusiasm of those with a more general interest in SNOMED CT Implementation

Options Considered … (3) Should the group become an even more open group that attracts more people to join and discuss open issues related to SNOMED CT implementation? Perhaps this is the way to go … Attract those completing Implementation E-Learning courses to join and participate Broaden the community of informed and interested people Facilitate shared development of a broader understanding backed up by practical experience related to implementation Discuss different approaches to implementation Share experience of best practice and known issues Develop new ideas and refine existing ideas to stimulate innovative approaches to known requirements Inform IHTSDO about ideas emerging from the group

Proposed Mission of the Group To identify barriers to implementation that can be addressed by open discussion in an international group of people with a shared interest in SNOMED CT implementation To bring forward and develop ideas that encourage and support SNOMED CT implementation by addressing barriers, demonstrating practical approaches and enhancing benefits To become the natural place for Implementation Course Alumni to get together and discuss aspects of SNOMED CT implementation

Connections to IHTSDO / SNOMED International Formal link A Management Team member (or a member of staff directly involved in an implementation related line of business) should act a the primary contact between the group and the organization Collaborative Space IHTSDO has provided the group with a collaborative space on Confluence to coordinate its work https://confluence.ihtsdotools.org/display/IMPLEMENT Note some recordings are still being transferred Teleconferences The group would continue to be provided with GotoMeeting access for teleconference meetings Face-to-Face meetings If the business case is strong and the meeting will be well attended face-to-face meetings may be held. This will need to be discussed via the primary contact to allow a decision to be made.

Allergies and other Specific Work Items The work the SIG has done on allergies in 2015 is greatly appreciated However, we should try to avoid the group becoming almost exclusively focused on narrow (albeit important) topic In future, special topics like this should be handled in a way that allows more general discussion and activity on implementation topics to continue Exactly how that can be managed depends on the topic and the level of enthusiasm in the group Possibilities include sub-groups … but this needs consideration on a case-by-case basis

Implementation Webinars The SIG has provided a great service in the past by hosting webinars If the group is prepared to continue this it would be good The group and the E-Learning team should consider options for synergy Attendance at live Implementation Webinars could supplement Implementation Course involvement Presenters of suitable Implementation Webinars could be invited to present similar material as an E-Learning presentation for inclusion in future courses E-Learning Course presentation could identify recordings of relevant live webinar presentations that may be of interest to course participants … other ideas welcome … In this presentation, we have explored nine terms that are used when talking about reference sets, and explained how each of these terms differ. A subset is a set whose members are all contained in another set. A reference set is an RF2 file format used to distribute SNOMED CT and it contains references to SNOMED CT components. A value set is a set of concept representations from one or more code systems, that usually exists in the context of an information model or healthcare standard. Extensional means that it’s defined by enumeration, and intensional means that it is defined using a query. The SNOMED CT content over which this query is run is called the Substrate, and the result of running the query over the particular substrate is called the expansion. The term ‘reference set member’ refers to a whole row of a reference set, while the referenced component is the SNOMED CT concept, description or relationship whose identifier appears in the referencedComponentId field.

Should the Name of the Group Change A name change is not essential but has been suggested as part of the reset to the group’s missing Most other SIGs are now health specialty groups The roles of this group is distinct and perhaps should be recognized in a new name Suggested new names are welcome!

Finding a New Co-Chair The group needs as leadership group of at least two people to coordinate its activities (perhaps 3) Volunteers to support Amy in her role as Chair are would be welcome If the general direction set out in this presentation is supported then we will also look to people in the pilot Implementation Course intake who may be willing to assist

Next Steps and Formal Status If the ideas in this presentation are supported by the group, the Management Team will suggest the revised approach to the Management Board and seek approval to formalize these changes