A step towards interoperability took place on the other side of the Atlantic in September, when the Continua Health Alliance unveiled the key components of the first set of technical standards for personal health products. It describes it as a move towards building a market of connected products and services that support the drive to remote and self-care.
Although the organisation, which was set up in June 2006 and already has over 130 member companies, is focused primarily on promoting healthcare at home, it acknowledges that interoperability of the relevant devices is one of the prerequisites. Earlier in the year its president and chair David Whitlinger said it had a mission to establish a marketplace of interoperable personal telehealth systems.
One of its priorities has been the development of a set of guidelines to increase assurance of interoperability. The idea is that manufacturers that meet the guidelines, ensuring that their products work seamlessly with others, will be permitted to use the Continua certification logo to promote them.
The full set is due to be published early in 2008, but the September announcement provides an indication that Continua has emphasised the importance of the tried and trusted in its decisions.
Technology marriage
It says that Version One, as it has named the standards, represents a marriage of well developed healthcare informatics data standards with proven consumer electronic technologies. This integration provides the necessary specifications for connectivity, and includes the Bluetooth Medical Device Profile Specification (Bluetooth SIG), USB Personal Health Device Specification (USB Forum), Health Level 7 for integration with standards based electronic health records, and ISO/IEEE 11073 Personal Health Device Specifications from the International Standards Organisation and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.
The healthcare record standards will use HL7 CCD for documents and HL7 v2.5 for messaging. These will help to provide a bridge between a healthcare provider's electronic record system and a remote patient monitoring server, which in turn can be linked to a remote monitoring system in the patient's home.
Devices covered by the ISO/IEEE standard include pulse oximeters, thermometers, weighing scales, strength fitness equipment and monitors for medication, glucose levels, cardiovascular condition and blood pressure.
Continua explains that this should provide the basis for making patients less dependent on having to go to a doctor's surgery. In managing chronic diseases, a network of readily connected health and medical devices will enable people with conditions such as diabetes to share vital information with their doctors, using devices such as blood pressure monitors and pulse oximeters. They can be combined with the likes of motion sensors, medication reminders and emergency response services to ease the burden on families and professionals who care for old people, while enabling the patients to stay independent.
In addition, data transport hardware and software certified by Continua will further enhance the interoperability of the devices.
Whitlinger says this will support the cause of enabling patients to take an active role in their own care.
"Continua's membership will utilise the Version One guidelines to create connected health devices and services that provide individuals the tools they need to proactively manage their health," he says.
Remote care is still in its pioneer stage in the UK, but it could receive a significant boost from a consumer market of trusted products. The large number of companies already involved in Continua suggests that the move could quickly gain some momentum in the US, in which case it may not be too long before the logo begins to appear in Europe. That could provide the push to make remote care an established feature of the health service.
