WG-20: Integration of Imaging and Information Systems

SecretariatMedical Imaging & Technology Alliance (MITA)
Emily Hoefer, emily.hoefer@nema.org
Co-ChairsJonathan Whitby, Vital/Canon
Brian Bialecki, American College of Radiology
wg20chairs@dicomstandard.org
Last strategy update2024-12-02
MinutesWG-20 minutes
Email list linkWG-20 Discourse email list
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DICOM and HL7 Process
For more information on how DICOM and HL7's processes interact, please see this presentation.

Scope:

  • Development of DICOM and HL7 Standards for image-related information for areas where the consistent use of HL7 and DICOM is of prime concern, and for the coordination and mutual education and understanding between the HL7 and DICOM organizations and their technical committees / working groups.
  • Imaging Integration promotes the interoperation of imaging systems and associated information systems that use HL7 Standards. Imaging Integration develops Standards and guidance (use cases, information structures, message and document content) related to the workflow of ordering, performing, communicating and reporting of imaging and associated data

Current Supplements, Work and Objectives:

  • HL7 Active Projects – Sponsor
    • 1692 Radiation Dose Summary for Diagnostic Procedures on FHIR
    • 1707 DICOM SR to FHIR Resource Mapping IG
    • 1818 Imaging ServiceRequest Profile IG
  • HL7 Active Projects – Co-Sponsor
    • 1392 FHIRcast: Application Context Synchronization in FHIR

Challenges and Opportunities (Environment):

  • Lack of EMR participation makes validation of some DICOM / HL7 interaction use cases difficult
    • Joint meetings with other HL7 working groups such as Orders and Observations help mitigate this somewhat

Future Roadmap and Objectives (Committee Direction):

Three Year Plan

  • Develop and maintain FHIR imaging-related resources - September 2021-September 2024
    • ImagingStudy
    • ImagingSelection
  • Develop imaging implementation guide, profiles, and white papers for FHIR - September 2021-September 2024
    • Radiation Dose Summary for Diagnostic Procedures on FHIR
    • DICOM SR to FHIR Observation Mapping
    • Image Ordering Workflow Mapping on FHIR 
      • Ensuring equivalent of IHE SWF can be done in a FHIR / DICOMweb environment
      • Extending v2 to FHIR mapping to cover imaging use cases
      • Tie in to existing v2 to DICOM MWL mapping
  • Potential additional topics include:
    • DICOMweb and FHIR integration
    • Additional DICOM SR template mapping (e.g. cardiac / echo reports)
    • Imaging AI results, workflow, etc.
  • Contribute to working group co-sponsored projects – September 2021-September 2024
    • FHIRcast
      • Continued refinements to core IG
      • Measurement / evidence exchange
    • Breast Radiology Reporting

Past Work:

  • FHIR STU3 release
  • Development of IHE Profiles WIC, and RRR-WF
  • Numerous HL7 CPs