1. Joint ITU-WHO Workshop e-Health Standards and Interoperability
Steve Mills
President, IEEE Standards Association
Geneva, Switzerland
26-27 April 2012

2. IEEE Standards Association (IEEE-SA)
Over 900 active standards
More than 20,000 developers of standards worldwide
IEEE-SA enables collaboration on technology solutions, providing a platform for innovation
Internationally recognized standards development organization driving standards from incubation to market adoption
IEEE-SA’s globally relevant standards enable integration of data and technology used by clinicians and caregivers
The IEEE-SA develops globally relevant standards that enable the integration of data and technology used by clinicians and caregivers to help patients live active and independent lives.
The IEEE-SA is an internationally recognized standards-development organization with over 900 active standards and more than 20,000 developers of standards worldwide. It provides a venue for innovators to collaborate on technology solutions.

3. IEEE-SA standards define methods for plug and play medical devices
Main Results To Date
IEEE-SA standards define methods for plug and play medical devices
IEEE family of standards span entire healthcare continuum
IEEE-SA is the international leader in media-access device standards for the Internet, on which medical-device communications rely
The IEEE-SA has standards that define methods for medical devices to plug and play with mobile phones and home hubs.
The IEEE 11073TM family of standards is coordinated across the entire healthcare continuum for personal health device communications for monitors, point-of-care communication foundations and transport profiles. These standards assist in the support of patients living independently with chronic diseases like asthma, diabetes, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, high blood pressure, stroke and atrial fibrillation.
In addition, the IEEE-SA is the international leader in media-access device standards for the Internet, on which medical-device communications rely. Continued development of capabilities of these standards will expand opportunities for medical-device communications.

4. Future Activities
IEEE-SA personal health device standards to provide for increased quality of care and patient safety
IEEE P provides greater access to critical patient information
IEEE P defines information communication profiles
IEEE P controls information exchange across devices
The IEEE-SA continues to address needs across personal health devices for disease management, health and fitness and independent living. Active development projects include:
By defining terminology for implantable cardiac devices (pacemakers, defibrillators, devices for cardiac resynchronization therapy or cardiac monitors), IEEE P is being developed to support greater access to critical patient information, automated verification that clinical orders have been completed in a timely fashion and in turn, increased quality of care and patient safety.
IEEE P is being developed to define information profiles for communication between personal telehealth devices and compute engines such as health appliances, set-top boxes, cell phones and personal computers. The goal is interoperability, which is crucial for expanding the potential market for these devices and enabling consumers to independently manage their own health.
IEEE P is addressing the need for an openly defined, independent standard for controlling information exchange to and from interoperable personal health devices, IEEE P is intended to define communications and a common core of functionality for personal telehealth insulin pump devices.

5. Addressing Challenges in an Evolving International Standards Paradigm
The standards mission:
Meet social and political needs of regions and countries
Foster global economic growth
Traditional model of international standards
Country/region centric
Newer complementary model
Market driven and borderless
The traditional model of international standards adoption—in which countries drive the adoption of standards by bodies with national representation—is established and well known. And this model remains meaningful.
We also have seen the emergence of a complementary model, where global markets themselves take the lead in driving international deployment of standards regardless of their formal status. A prime example of this dynamic is the Internet, on which medical-device communications depends.
Collectively, the W3C, IETF and IEEE represent a suite of standards, which are the foundation for the Internet. Together, these standards have been a key facilitator for the growth of a global economic and social model that has touched billions of lives, but they were not deployed via the traditional, national-representation model of standards adoption.
 The Internet, critical for medical devices
Standards from W3C, IETF and IEEE – foundation for the Internet
Key facilitator for growth of global economic and social model touching billions of lives
Not deployed via traditional, national-representation model of standards adoption
Driven by market momentum to innovate
Ultimately, it will be the market itself—not only in medical-device communications but across other technology areas, as well—that will choose the appropriate solutions and decide which standards are relevant.
This fact begs unprecedented coordination and collaboration across the global standards community. The culture of innovation—driven by global markets—requires that the standards environment become borderless, and, in real-world, practical application, the standards environment is responding.

6. Addressing Challenges Through Collaboration
Challenges with consistency, interoperability and nomenclature and code—and associated gaps in standards—continue to reveal themselves as e-Health technologies evolve. The IEEE Standards Association is addressing these gaps, informed by its collaboration with several global healthcare-focused organizations, among them:
Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE) Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC)
Health Level Seven International (HL7)
Internet Architecture Board (IAB)
ICE (Integrated Clinical Environment)
International Standards Organization (ISO)
European Committee for Standardization (CEN)
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)
Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM)
International Health Terminology Standards Development Organization (IHTSDO)
Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine (SNOMED)
Continua Health Alliance
U.S. National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST)
Furthermore, the varied standards that support end-to-end, medical-related communications originate from many different standards bodies and reach the marketplace in many different ways. Coordination and cooperation across these organizations is critical to ensure the maximum value of e-Health’s contribution to society.

7. Conclusions and Recommendations
IEEE standards enable healthcare solutions that save lives and improve quality of life
Strong relationships with industry and SDOs enables more efficient standards community
Global standards essential; require global participation
IEEE-SA leading global coordination and collaboration demanded by new nuances of international standards paradigm
Delivering standards essential to bringing about the world that humankind deserves
Advancing technology for humanity
The IEEE-SA is leading a strategic and cultural transition in order to align itself with the evolution in global market dynamics.
Standards developed in accordance with the shift in global market dynamics translate into innovation in capabilities, improved interoperability, greater simplicity and better prices within their technology areas.
For example, IEEE standards for medical-device communications play a critical role in helping to eliminate gaps and errors across the spectrum of healthcare delivery. Most importantly, they help to enable healthcare product vendors and integrators to create devices and build systems that will save lives and improve the quality of life for people worldwide.
In this way, such global standards are essential to bringing about the world that humankind desires.

8. Thank You! Steve Mills President IEEE Standards Association (IEEE-SA)
Thank you. Any questions?