Launch of First End-to-End Continua Standards-based Connected Health Solution
January 6, 2010
Continua Health Alliance has released the first Continua architecture-based end-to-end connected health application. This achievement of the more than 220-organization alliance, is said to be a noteworthy milestone in its goal to create an environment of interoperable connected personal health systems.
The Continua End-to-End (E2E) Reference Architecture provides a high-level architectural overview of the Continua ecosystem, includes four network interfaces and five reference device classes, and also indicates constraints in topology. The network interfaces, PAN, LAN, WAN, and Electronic/Personal Health Records Network Interface (xHRN), are primary to Continua’s interoperability objectives, and governs its product testing and certification efforts.
The solution will be displayed at the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) at Las Vegas, during January 7-10. Using the new end-to-end connected solution, Continua members will demonstrate the transfer of data from consumer health devices to medical offices hospitals, patient information systems, etc., using the following:
• Nonin’s Nonin Onyx® II Model 9560 Bluetooth® fingertip pulse oximeter, a Continua Certified™ wireless device, as a source of the data
• Vignet’s Connected Health Services platform employing Continua’s device interface standard, to receive the data transferred from the oximeter into a PC manager
• IBM server, employing the Continua WAN interface standard, to allow uploading of data from the PC manager. The IBM server, leveraging the Continua interface, will then be able to transfer the data to various other sources.
Guidelines Spur Continua Standards-based Solutions DevelopmentThe impetus for the development of compliant health solutions and services was provided by the publication of the Continua Health Alliance Version One Design Guidelines, which is based on a comprehensive set of existing industry standards. The guidelines were established to act as a basis for the integration of a product into the interoperable personal healthcare environment. Focusing on the PAN-IF and xHRN-IF interfaces (Disease Management Services [DMS], WAN devices [xHR Senders] and electronic health record devices [xHR Receivers]), the guidelines were framed specifically for
• manufacturers interested in certifying their devices by Continua criteria
• vendors integrating Continua devices into systems and subsystems
• test labs certifying for Continua-specification compliance
The alliance plans on rolling out the next set of guidelines in the first half of the year, along with more use cases, two standards for wireless technology, extended capabilities and new devices into the Continua ecosystem.
Harmony of Standards
The challenges of plug-and-play interoperability and transparent integration of medical devices with computer systems have been universally addressed by using standards. In their efforts towards promoting interoperability of healthcare devices and services, the global, non-profit, open industry coalition has developed design guidelines based on industry connectivity standards, like
• USB for wired devices and Bluetooth for wireless devices
• ISO/IEEE 11073 at point-of-care and EN13606 connecting to the electronic healthcare record server
• Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE)
• HL7
Continua’s Journey So Far
Identifying the need to create a connected personal healthcare environment, and extend care delivery from the traditional hospital setting to homes in response to the increasing chronic conditions and aging population, the industry’s leading healthcare, fitness and technology facilities converged to form the Continua Health Alliance. The efforts of the alliance are directed towards monitoring healthcare requirements of the aging population, proactive health and fitness, and management of chronic diseases. Since its establishment in 2006, Continua has translated its mission of connecting the healthcare industry through various achievements.
• September 2007: First set of guidelines for personal fitness and health services and solution interoperability
• October 2008: First public interoperability demonstration of Continua pre-certified products and solutions
• January 2009: Nonin Medical’s Nonin 2500 PalmSAT® handheld pulse oximeter with USB, recognized as the first Continua™ Certified solution
• June 2009: Release of Version One Design Guidelines
• August 2009: Join forces with IHE to create a single set of content, vocabulary, and transport standards for devices employed at home and hospital. The harmonized standard was also supported by the Healthcare Information Technology Standards Panel (HITSP)
Abiding by their mission of enabling complete interoperability among connected health systems, the alliance’s President and Chairman of the Board, Rick Cnossen states that their current endeavor of facilitating standards-based interfaces will help stimulate innovation and eliminate barriers for global adoption and implementation. Vignet’s CEO, Praduman Jain says that the empowerment of data sharing capabilities between patients and providers, can promote the acceptance of electronic medical records (EMRs), patient health records (PHRs) and connected health devices.
Connected care, an approach of delivering healthcare remotely through technology, includes telehealth and home care, all aimed towards managing disease and lifestyle, elderly patients care, and improving chronic care. The industry is currently witnessing the transition of care delivery from hospitals to homes, owing to convenience and cost issues. A recent report by Parks Associates anticipates the US wireless homecare services and solutions market, to experience more than 80% annual growth rate in a collective five years, and by 2013, develop into a $4.4 billion industry. Industry experts attribute the growth of connected health to the rapidly advancing technology, which could support the emergence of more healthcare delivery models, enabling enhanced access and care outcomes, while managing costs.
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