HALO from Infoway

[Debra Turnbull]

HALO is a data standard framework that comes from Canada Health Infoway. It is:

• derived from HL7 and FHIR (HL7 is a healthcare data standard; FHIR comes from HL7) {1},

• intended for primary care but will work with all EMRs (yes, even hospitals), and

• is vendor agnostic (works with different EMRs; from different vendors).

• Uses the 'develop once; deploy many' principle,

• single sign-on architecture (solves provider portal-itis), and

• establishes a common framework.

Its intent is to be:

• equitable,

• scalable,

• set up reusable components (many EMR apps), and

• be Plug & Play.

In essence, this allows for the creation of a 'Play/Apps Store' for EMRs. This makes it possible for an EMR app, created in one province, to be integrated into another EMR; in a different province or territory.
B.C. has piloted a BC Patient Summary{2} which is based on the International Patient Summary standard. Ontario has 2 products currently in use: eConsult and eReferral{3}.

Why This Is Important
The apps being developed are meant to decrease clinician workload, and provide patients access to their information. It benefits clinicians, administrators, support staff... and us patients.

REFERENCES

1. https://infocentral.infoway-inforoute.ca/en/standards/canadian/fhir
2. https://www.phsa.ca/health-professionals/professional-resources/digital-health/digital-health-initiatives/patient-summary
3. https://www.infoway-inforoute.ca/en/featured-initiatives/ereferral-econsult