IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers) P1157 Medical Data Interchange (MEDIX): application of open systems to health care communications.

IT offers the potential for controlling the rising costs of health care while continuing to improve the quality of health care delivery. Health care communications standards are a necessary condition to accelerating the diffusion of IT in health care. The IEEE P1157 standards, which are international in scope, are being developed by a process of open participation under the auspices of the IEEE EMBS to meet strict conformance to the ISO/OSI standards. The IEEE P1157 standards are being coordinated with related health care information systems and will make an important contribution in this area. The initial focus of the IEEE P1157 committee will provide a needed subset of the eventual standard in 1991. The long-term focus on the patient record will provide the groundwork for extension of the effort to cover communications in all of health care. Development of these standards is based upon voluntary effort. All health care professionals with an interest in this area are urged to participate actively in the process.