Interoperability between healthcare computer systems depends on us developing, implementing and deploying appropriate standards, such as HL7 and SNOMED CT, working together as a tightly specified language.

"Joined-up healthcare makes information available when and where it is needed to improve safety, efficiency and effectiveness. Politicians may take interoperability between healthcare computer systems for granted, but it is non-trivial. Healthcare integration projects are notoriously under-estimated and come in over-budget and over-time.Joined-up healthcare depends on standards. The two leading standards are the SNOMED CT, which is a clinical terminology (semantics) and HL7 Version 3, which is a specialised healthcare interoperability language (syntax). Both are new, complex and fit for purpose.Tim Benson believes there is an unmet need for a book on Healthcare Integration. Some health informatics textbooks include chapters on HL7 and/or SNOMED, but these are usually quite short and cannot provide even an adequate introduction. There is little of much value on the Internet, or in journals or conference proceedings."

Principles of Interoperability.- The Health Information Revolution.- Why Interoperability is Hard.- Models.- UML and XML.- Standards Development Organizations.- HL7 - Health Level Seven.- HL7 Version 2.- The HL7 V3 RIM.- Constrained Information Models.- Clinical Document Architecture.- HL7 Dynamic Model and IHE XDS.- SNOMED CT.- Clinical Terminology.- SNOMED CT.- Using SNOMED and HL7 Together.