NA Connectathon 2019 Resources

IHE USA welcomes your participation in the IHE North American Connectathon 2019.  This page points you to the resources you need to prepare and succeed!  Registration is open in the Gazelle Test Management System Sep 10 - Oct 12, 2018.

Important for 2019!!

Contract submission and payment are due at the close of registration. That means you have to generate the contract and make payment by October 12, 2018. If you have questions, please contact the IHE USA sponsors: connectathon@ihe.net

 

For Participants

Gazelle Connectathon Test Management

http://ihe.wustl.edu/gazelle-na

Participation Checklist

Detailed Connectathon Schedule

Registration

IHE Technical Frameworks, Consolidated CDA

Schedule and Logistics

Schedule, fees, payment, badges, hotel, shipping info ...

Pre-Connectathon

Technical Resources

Targeted Resources

Training Material / Webex Presentations

Communication (email addresses, email lists)

Miscellaneous

 FAQ's

 

 

 

For Monitors:

  

 

 

 

NA Connectathon 2019 New Supplements

New Supplements

The following table contains new supplements that are published for the first time. We include only those supplements that have been published after January 2018.  

We purposely omit supplements that have been re-published.

 

DomainAcronymSupplement / Profile

Cardiology

 

 

IT Infrastructure

AS4

Asynchronous AS4 Option

IT Infrastructure

RMU

Restricted Metadata Update

Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

 

  

Patient Care Coordination

CDA-DSS

CDA Document Summary Section

Patient Care Coordination

DCP

Dynamic Care Plan

Patient Care Coordination

FPv2

Family Planning Version 2

Patient Care Coordination

PCS

Paramedicine Care Summary

Patient Care Devices

 

 

Pharmacy

 

 

Quality, Research, Public Health

QORE

Quality Outcome Reporting for EMS 

Radiology

EBIW

Encounter Based Imaging Workflow

Radiology

WIA

Web-based Image Access

NA Connectathon 2019 Application and Network Info

  Prepare your system to test at the Connectathon.  Find configuration, IP address, OIDs and other network information here.

Configuration for Connectathon test systems / OIDs

An important Connectathon preparation task for December is to share configuration parameters for your test system (ports, URLs...).

Configuration entry is a two-step process prior to the Connectathon.  We want you to spend your time at the Connectathon working on interoperability issues and not asking your neighbor, "What is the URL of your Repository?"

  1. Starting in December, we collect your system's configuration parameters in gazelle.  Due December 21, 2018.
  2. Then, you retrieve your partners' parameters from gazelle and enter them into your system.  Finish this task before arriving at the Connectathon.

Gazelle assigns you default parameters based on the profiles & actors you signed up to test.  Your task is to update those to actual parameter for your test system and marked them 'Approved'.  This is done in gazelle under menu Configuration-->System Configuration.

Hostnames: Each test system in gazelle is given a hostname.  You can allocate additional hostnames for your systems if you need them.  IP addresses will be assigned to hostnames shortly before the Connectathon.

The gazelle proxy:  The config/ports for the gazelle proxy are shown on the gazelle configuration page in red font.  There is separate training provided about use of the gazelle proxy.

Many systems need OIDs as part of their configuration (Patient ID Sources, XDS Source & Repositories, homeCommunityIDs, others...).  These are assigned in gazelle under menu Configuration-->OIDs for current session.

Any questions about configuration parameters should be sent to Steve Moore (...after you have viewed the training ;-) )

Training on gazelle configuration entry

There is a a new Gazelle in town. The training for this has changed.

Connectathon Network Description

The connectathon network is the backbone for our interoperability testing.  Please read this before arriving in Cleveland:  NetworkDescription-NA2019.pdf

 IP Addresses

  1. In January, fixed IP addresses will be assigned for all hostnames you configured as part of your configuration work in Dec/Jan (hosts, ports, URLs, ...).
  2. You can see your IP addresses using Gazelle (http://ihe.wustl.edu/gazelle-na) 
    -- Configurations -> (Company) : Systems Configuration
    -- Select a system
    -- The hosts and IP addresses associated with that system will display at the top
  3. You can see all IP addresses (all systems, including yours, using Gazelle (http://ihe.wustl.edu/gazelle-na)
    -- Configurations -> Network Configuration Overview
    -- Lower left: Download hosts file

 

  Contact Us! Get help when you need it.

 

NA Connectathon 2019 Monitor Resources

Welcome! We gather resources here for our extraordinary volunteer monitors.

Table of Contents

 

Connectathon Week Resources

  >>Schedule for the week:

Monday Jan 21

  • 11:00-11:30 - Arrive at Cleveland Convention Center, pick up your badge at the registration desk
  • 11:30 - Monitor welcome meeting in Room 26A
  • noon - Lunch!
  • 1:00 - 1:30 - Find your table, get hooked to the network
  • 1:30 - 5:30 - Test verification begins

Tueday Jan 22

Wed & Thur Jan 23, 24

  • 9:00 - 5:30 - Connectathon testing session

Friday Jan 25

  >>Gazelle:

The link to Gazelle on-site & off-site is the same: http://ihe.wustl.edu/gazelle-na

See Steve (P28), Cédric (N28), or Lynn (P27) about any Gazelle problems, password resets, etc

  >>Seating chart:

-- Seating assignments - Note that vendor able locations are visible in test instance in gazelle to help you locate test partners in the room

  >> Monitors' Profile Assignments:

        Monitor profile assignments are in this google spreadsheet.  

  >>Network Info:

  • Network support staff on-site -- at a labelled table near the entry doors to the Connectathon room.
  • Connectathon Network Description for testing participants
  • Wireless network for monitors:
    • SSID: Monitors
    • Password: cleveland 19 

  >>Test tools 

(1) For TOOLS CONNECTATION LOCATION & CONFIGURATION:  See https://gazelle.ihe.net/content/na-connectathon-2019-week-resources#Tool   Note: The link sends you to the Participants' page so that we all have consistent configuration information.  Most monitors will want to bookmark that link.

(2) For a SUMMARY OF CONNECTATHON TOOLS, THEIR USE & AVAILABLE TRAINING:  See Training Section below.

 

Contact Us:

  >>Ask questions. Get help on-site:

  • Logistics (expenses, travel...):  Sarah Bell at the Registration Desk or Help Desk
  • Network problems:  Network support staff (at a labelled table near the entry doors to the Connectathon room) 
  • Gazelle help:  Lynn Felhofer (P27)
  • Questions on Patient Care Devices PCD tests:  Paul Sherman (E27)
  • Questions on CDA, RFD tests:  Steve Moore (P28)
  • Questions on all other tests:  Lynn Felhofer (P27)
  • Tool help:  ...varies by tool.  See links in the section above.

    >> Email Support

Technical Preparation Resources:

>> Monitors' Profile Assignments:

Monitor profile assignments are in this google spreadsheet.  

We organize IHE profiles with common characteristics or technologies into "clusters", and then we assign monitors to evaluate tests in one "cluster" (perhaps two).  The google spreadsheet contains the first draft of monitor assignments.  We try to assign you to profiles that match your expertise.  We hope that some assignments allow you to learn something new.  During the Connectathon, you will have an opportunity, if you wish, to work in areas outside of your primary assignment. In fact, each monitor has the capability to evaluate tests in almost any profile.

There are two tabs in the spreadsheet:

    • The first "Assignments" tab contains a row for each monitor.  The columns identify the profile "clusters".  The numbers in the column indicate how you will spend your time, eg a "1" indicates you will devote your time evaluating tests in that cluster.  Some monitors are asked to split time between two clusters.   During Connectathon week monitors will have the opportunity to evaluate tests in another area based on your interest or on our need for help in a certain area.
    • The second "Cluster-Profiles" tab identifies the profiles in each cluster.  Each profile listed in Column D contains a link to that profile's documentation.  If the link is to Technical Framework Volume 1, then there is one chapter per profile.  If the link is to a Trial Implementation Supplement, then the entire profile is contained within one document.  The yellow rows also point to available preparation material.

>> Technical Specifications: 

The specifications we test at the Connectathon are contained in IHE Technical Framework documentation.   IHE publishes its Technical Framework documents, organized by domain, on the Technical Framework page of ihe.net.

Each IHE domain's Technical Framework is segmented into multiple volumes; Volume 1 contains the use cases the profile addresses, the process flow and a diagram of the actors & transactions in the profiles. The technical details of the transactions are not in Volume 1, and as a monitor, you do not need to be an expert at that level. If you are reading a Trial Implementation Supplement, you will see that the contents are separated into Volume 1 and Volume 2 within the supplement.

If you are not familiar with IHE documentation, we recommend you view the "Interpreting the IHE Technical Framework" video in the training section below before you read the documentation.

If you have time prior to the Connectathon, we recommend you read the chapter in Technical Framework "Volume 1" for the profiles you are assigned to evaluate. 

We also test HL7 Consolidated CDA® Release 2.1.  Those specifications are here.

 

>> Monitor training material

While we provide material to enable monitors to do some preparation prior to the Connectathon, we understand the demands of your day job, and we have no requirement for you to do advance prep.

That said, this section contains links to available training material that falls into 4 categories.  

  • The January 8 Connectathon Monitor webinar -- if you have time for only one prep item, this is the one to choose.
  • General training topics -- probably of more interest to first-time monitors
  • Cluster-specific training material -- these trainings are organized according to the 'clusters' of profiles you are assigned to.
  • Connectathon tools overview & training material -- outline of tools, how they're used, and available training

 

Topic
Date/Time
Duration
Connectathon overview for all monitors: 

Connectathon Monitors - Preparation & Process Webinar:  
- Monitor responsibilities
- Connectathon process for monitors
- Gazelle walk-through
- Q & A

Streaming Recording  | Download recording (.mp4)

Slides

64 min
General training: (primary audience is new monitors)

Interpreting the IHE Technical Framework

This covers terminology used in IHE Technical Frameworks explains the structure of IHE documentation, and describes IHE's publication cycle. If you've never read IHE documentation before, you will find this background information helpful.

(Streaming link) (.mp4)

 40 min

Connectathon Terminology
Definitions needed to understand using Gazelle during a connectathon (known to most returning participants; highly recommended for new participants & monitors)

(Streaming link) (.mp4)

 11 min

Using gazelle to review Connectathon test definitions

How to use gazelle to read test definitions for IHE profiles you're assigned to. (.mp4)

 8 min

IHE 2018 Educational Webinar Series
IHE sponsored its annual educational webinar series during summer and fall. You will find overview presentations for each IHE domain as well as 'speciality' presentations on topics like security, cross-community sharing of healthcare information, etc. These presentations *are not* connectathon-specific.

 multiple presentations; duration varies
Cluster-specific trainings:


Please refer to the Monitor Assignments. 

Then, find the Cluster-Profiles tab.   

For each cluster of profiles, you will find links to available Preparation Material, including recordings and slide presentations.

 multiple presentations; duration varies

 

>> The following table summarizes tools deployed during Connectathon, how they're used, and available training material: 

TOOLS DEPLOYED AT CONNECTATHON 
Gazelle Proxy
Provider Organization IHE Europe Development
Summary “man in the middle”… captures messages exchanged between two test systems and enables message validation. (not applicable to TLS message exchange)
Use in Many...applicable to messaging in all IHE profiles that do not require TLS communication.  When participants link proxy message in test instances, monitors can use the link to examine message content and (for some messages) call validators in EVSClient.
Training
PCD Tools  
Provider Organization NIST
Summary Validates one to one messages passing patient and device information. New functionality validates some detailed ACM profile content.
Used in  PCD cluster:  monitors verify messages exchanged in peer-to-peer tests
Training provided on-site
Gazelle Security Suite (GSS)
Provider Organization IHE Europe Development
Summary Source of digital certificates for ATNA/TLS. Simulates an Audit Record Repository. Validates audit records. TLS Simulators (client & server), including for new ATNA options. Home of the ‘ATNA Questionnaire’ for systems testing ATNA. SAML assertion provider for XUA.
Used in  SEC cluster:  monitors verify ATNA questionnaires, validate audit records, and check TLS connections.
Training
XDS Toolkit
Provider Organization NIST, + Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology (for XDS-I & XCA-I)
Summary Validates messages and simulates actors in document sharing profiles, XDS, XDS-I, XCA and related profiles. New functionality supporting MHD profile.
Used in clusters XC*, XDS, XDS-I, Mobile clusters.  Specific tests instruct monitors to use Toolkit to verify messages, or as a Doc Consumer simulator to perform queries against participants' tests systems.
Training provided on-site
Gazelle EVSClient
Provider Organization IHE Europe Development, with embedded validators provided by many organizations
Summary Validators for HL7v2, v3 messages, CDA documents, & FHIR Resources. Multiple DICOM validators. Other validators: XDW, PDF/A, DSUB, HPD… When you validate a message from within the Gazelle Proxy or Gazelle Samples area, it calls validators within the EVSClient.
Used in  CDA:  monitors validate CDA documents and RAD/CARD monitors validate DICOM objects (via the Gazelle Samples page).  Plus other validators are used (see Summary above).
Training User Manual
Gazelle Patient Manager
Provider Organization IHE Europe Development
Summary Simulator for actors in Patient ID mgmt profiles: PIX*, PDQ*, PAM. Source of "Connectathon test patients".
Use  Simulators are used by participants during pre-Connectathon testing; sometimes during Connectathon.  Source of test patients during Connectathon.   
Connectathon tests *do not* call for monitors to use Patient Manager.  
Training User Manual
PIX/PDQ and Vital Records Test Tools
Provider Organization NIST
Summary Validators for PIXv2, PIXv2, PDQv2 and PDQv3 messages. Validation for Vital Records Death Reporting.
Used in clusters Monitors may use the tools for message validation in the PatID cluster and for VRDR.
Training
HAPI Servers
Provider Organization HAPI servers deployed at Connectathon by Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology Summary: Validation of FHIR Resources. Vendors participants will store some Resources here. Hosts test data for some FHIR-based IHE profiles.
Summary

Participants will store some Resources here.  Hosts test data for some FHIR-based IHE profiles.
Used in clusters Mobile:  monitors validate FHIR resources.
Training
DICOM Central Archive (dcm4chee)
Provider Organization dcm4che.org
Summary Used as a commonly-accessible repository for DICOM objects.   Participants store their objects here.  Available to other participants via DICOM C-FIND, C-MOVE, QIDO-RS, and WADO-RS.
Used in  RAD, CARD clusters, primarily by participants.  Monitors use the web-based GUI to verify that vendors have stored their objects here, but will not use other features.
Gazelle Order Manager
Provider Organization IHE Europe Development
Summary Order Placer and Order Filler simulator in departmental workflow profiles; DICOM Modality Worklist provider (SCP) and HL7 order exchange
Used in clusters Simulators are used by participants in RAD, CARD, and LAB during pre-Connectathon testing; sometimes during Connectathon, especially as a DICOM Modality Worklist SCP.   
Connectathon tests *do not* call for monitors to use Order Manager.  
Training

 

Overall timeline for Connectathon Monitors:

BEFORE CONNECTATHON-->

Refer to this Connectathon Monitor Travel Guide for guidance on all travel-related tasks!
Nov 15

-- Complete Monitor Travel Survey.  
-- If you will book flights to Cleveland, activate your account in Concur Travel. 
Nov 30 Book flights (if applicable).  Refer to the Connectathon Monitor Travel Guide. Monitors must arrange airfare through Concur Travel.
Dec 1 Register for your Monitor badge.  You will receive an invitation from Cvent via email with registration link.
Dec 1 Request advance per diem.  Send per diem form to sbell@himss.org.

(Alternatively, submit post-event per diem form by Feb 9, 2019.)

Jan 8, 10-11 am CST

Attend the Connectathon Monitors - Preparation & Process Webinar:  
- Monitor responsibilities 
- Connectathon process for monitors 
- Gazelle walk-through 
- Q & A

Recording link | Slides
CONNECTATHON WEEK-->
 

See details above.

AFTER CONNECTATHON-->
Feb 9 If you did not request advance per diem by Dec 1 then send your post-event  per diem form to sbell@himss.org.

 

Video

This is a great welcome to new monitors captured on video. While it is was done by a SIIM board member at the beginning of Connectathon monitor training in 2009, his points about the benefits of your volunteer service stand true today. We invite you to watch this 5 minute video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=6SrkvyB1EPs

Our Connectathon FAQ for vendor participants 

We have put together this FAQ with answers to questions we frequently receive from our vendor participants. You may find it informative.

 

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