EPR Projectathon

EPR Projectathon 2024

Sharing with standards

The 8th EPR Projectathon took place from 16th to 20th September 2024 at the Eventforum in Berne. This year's test focus was on the connection of image archives, exchange formats, such as the new laboratory report, and the connection of primary systems via FHIR interfaces.

External link: List of profiles for testing (131 KB, 05/08/24)

External link: Final Report of the 2024 edition of the EPR Projectathon (2.2 MB, 10/30/24)

The Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) presented the programme DigiSanté during the EPR Projectathon 2024. The programme DigiSanté aims to speed up the digital transformation of the Swiss healthcare system, particularly through various projects on the standardization of health data transfert.

External link: More information on DigiSanté

Photo credits: Raphaël Schaller, External link: raphaelphoto.ch

The EPR Projectathon ...

... is an interoperability and conformity test marathon, similar to the IHE-Connectathon:

For five days, participants can test their own products live on site for interoperability and, if necessary, adapt them to the findings during the event. The EPR reference environment and the test descriptions are available in advance.

... is a practical test for the EPR implementation:

The results of tests with other participants, the central services of the Confederation and the EPR reference environment provide indications of one's own status with regard to EPR interoperability. Peer-to-peer tests and peer-to-reference environment tests show the interaction of the IT components. Group tests simulate use cases from the EPR, for example the opening of an EPR, rights management or cross-community queries.

... does not replace the certification of EPR communities:

The tests around EPR interoperability are voluntary and non-binding for all participants. The EPR Projectathon is an efficient tool, but not a guarantee for a successful certification.

...is not an IHE-Europe Connectathon:

The EPR Projectathon focuses on EPR-specific configurations and clarifications of the IHE profiles - not on the underlying IHE standard profiles. These can be tested at the IHE-Europe Connectathon. At the EPR Projectathon, the simulators of the EPR Reference Environment are available for such basic tests. Unlike the IHE-Europe Connectathon, no test results will be published.

Internal link: More information about the EPR-Projectathon

Internal link: More information on the preparation steps

External link: More information about the IHE-Europe Connectathon

  • Abilis SA
  • ADSwiss
  • ahdis AG
  • Aseno
  • Association CARA
  • Hôpitaux universitaires de Genève HUG
  • Hôpitaux universitaires de Genève - DSI
  • Post CH Kommunikation AG / Digital Health
  • SER Interact Digital AG
  • Sopra Steria
  • synedra Schweiz AG
  • The i-engineers AG

Testing for laboratories: FOPH CH-ELM Projectathon

The External link: Communicable Diseases Division of the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) is developing a FHIR API and a FHIR exchange format (External link: CH ELM ) to enable laboratories to send electronically their observations of notifiable communicable diseases to the FOPH. The CH ELM exchange format is based on the External link: CH Lab Report from eHealth Suisse. The Communicable Diseases Division FOPH is actively supporting the onboarding of the laboratories.

Therefore, the FOPH gave all interested parties – in collaboration with eHealth Suisse - the opportunity to test the aforementioned ELM transaction at the EPR Projectathon 2024.  During the event, technicians and developers from laboratories or LIS (laboratory information system) manufacturers were able to exchange directly with specialists from the FOPH on all practical implementation problems linked to the CH-ELM project, as well as test the ELM format and get direct feedbacks. They could also get insights into other FHIR projects (e.g. Internal link: EPR, External link: CH-Lab-Report or External link: CH-Lab-Order ). Experience to date has shown that a project can be significantly accelerated by face-to-face exchange.

The FOPH offered the testing for laboratories as part of the EPR Projectathon from Tuesday 17th to Thursday 19th September 2024. The FOPH was onsite with its own system integration team.

Participants:

  • ZLM Zentrum für Labormedizin