1 Introduction
This document, Volume 2 of the IHE IT Infrastructure (ITI) Technical Framework, defines transactions used in IHE IT Infrastructure profiles.
1.1 Introduction to IHE
Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE) is an international initiative to promote the use of standards to achieve interoperability among health information technology (HIT) systems and effective use of electronic health records (EHRs). IHE provides a forum for care providers, HIT experts and other stakeholders in several clinical and operational domains to reach consensus on standards-based solutions to critical interoperability issues.
The primary output of IHE is system implementation guides, called IHE Profiles. IHE publishes each profile through a well-defined process of public review and trial implementation and gathers profiles that have reached final text status into an IHE Technical Framework, of which this volume is a part.
For more general information regarding IHE, refer to www.ihe.net. It is strongly recommended that, prior to reading this volume, readers familiarize themselves with the concepts defined in the IHE Technical Frameworks General Introduction.
1.2 Introduction to IHE IT Infrastructure (ITI) Technical Framework
This document, the IHE IT Infrastructure Technical Framework (ITI TF), defines specific implementations of established standards to achieve integration goals that promote appropriate sharing of medical information to support optimal patient care. It is expanded annually, after a period of public review, and maintained regularly through the identification and correction of errata. The latest version of the document is always available at https://profiles.ihe.net/ITI/TF/index.html.
1.3 Intended Audience
The intended audience of IHE Technical Frameworks Volume 2 is:
- Those interested in integrating healthcare information systems and workflows
- IT departments of healthcare institutions
- Technical staff of vendors participating in the IHE initiative
- Experts involved in standards development
1.4 Overview of Technical Framework Volumes 2 and 3
The remainder of Section 1 further describes the general nature, purpose and function of the Technical Framework. Section 2 presents the conventions used in this volume to define IHE transactions.
Section 3 defines transactions in detail, specifying the roles for each actor, the standards employed, the information exchanged, and in some cases, implementation options for the transaction. Section 3 is divided into two parts:
Volume 2 contains all transactions and all technical appendices.
Volume 3, Section 4 contains specifications that are used by multiple transactions.
Volume 3, Section 5 contains Content Specifications.
Code and message samples are stored online. See ITI TF-2: Appendix W.
1.5 Comment Process
IHE International welcomes comments on this document and the IHE initiative. Comments on the IHE initiative can be submitted by sending an email to the co-chairs and secretary of the IT Infrastructure domain committees at iti@ihe.net. Comments on this document can be submitted at ITI Public Comments.
1.6 Copyright Licenses
IHE technical documents refer to, and make use of, a number of standards developed and published by several standards organizations. Please refer to the IHE Technical Frameworks General Introduction, Chapter 9 - Copyright Licenses for copyright license information for frequently referenced base standards. Information pertaining to the use of IHE International copyrighted materials is also available there.
1.7 Trademark
IHE ® and the IHE logo are trademarks of the Healthcare Information Management Systems Society in the United States and trademarks of IHE Europe in the European Community. They may only be used with the written consent of the IHE International Board Operations Committee, which may be given to a Member Organization in broad terms for any use that is consistent with the IHE mission and operating principles.
1.8 Disclaimer Regarding Patent Rights
Attention is called to the possibility that implementation of the specifications in this document may require use of subject matter covered by patent rights. By publication of this document, no position is taken with respect to the existence or validity of any patent rights in connection therewith. IHE International is not responsible for identifying Necessary Patent Claims for which a license may be required, for conducting inquiries into the legal validity or scope of Patents Claims or determining whether any licensing terms or conditions provided in connection with submission of a Letter of Assurance, if any, or in any licensing agreements are reasonable or non-discriminatory. Users of the specifications in this document are expressly advised that determination of the validity of any patent rights, and the risk of infringement of such rights, is entirely their own responsibility. Further information about the IHE International patent disclosure process including links to forms for making disclosures is available at http://www.ihe.net/Patent_Disclosure_Process. Please address questions about the patent disclosure process to the secretary of the IHE International Board: secretary@ihe.net.
1.9 History of Document Changes
This section provides a brief summary of changes and additions to the IT Infrastructure Technical Framework.
| Date | Document Revision | Change Summary |
| 2015 - 2020 | Various |
Refer to the ITI Technical Framework – Log of Integrated Change Proposals (CPs) for details on updates to the ITI Technical Framework Volumes and Trial Implementation Supplements. |
| July 2018 | ITI TF Rev. 15.0 | Integrate the “Delayed Document Assembly” Trial Implementation Supplement. |
| July 2020 | ITI TF Rev. 17.0 | Integrate the XPID Trial Implementation Supplement |
| July 2021 | ITI TF Rev. 18.0 | Integration of approved CPs |
| June 2022 | ITI TF Rev. 19.0 | Integration of approved CPs |
| August 2023 | ITI TF Rev. 20.0 | Integration of approved CPs. |