Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 146: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the timescale for the roll out of the Health Level 7 messaging structure within the health service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5990/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Health Level 7, HL7, is one of several American National Standards Institute accredited standards developing organisations operating in the health care arena. Its mission is to:

provide standards for the exchange, management and integration of data that support clinical patient care and the management, delivery and evaluation of health care services. Specifically, to create flexible, cost effective approaches, standards, guidelines, methodologies, and related services for interoperability between health care information systems.

HL7 standards are being adopted worldwide as crucial elements in creating the environment necessary to support the delivery of integrated, person centred health services, by making relevant information available as appropriate to authorised care professionals.

In 2003, the HL7 messaging standard was adopted by the health service, through the work of the former health boards executive's messaging project, as the national standard for appropriate messages. As new messages are developed, they will be built to conform to that standard. Selected messages between a number of hospitals and general practitioner offices have been developed and are being delivered, conforming to this standard. It is intended that further secondary care to primary care linkages will be made, particularly between hospitals and general practitioners, as the underlying information and communications technology systems are made ready to receive them. As new information and communications technology products and services are acquired for the health service, appropriate components will be required to confirm to the HL7 standard at the time of acquisition, or to have a clear plan for ensuring such conformance within a reasonable timeframe.