Plugathon Overview
A new addition to the pan-Canadian Projectathons from 2022 and 2023 is the Plugathon! The Plugathon is a less formal counterpart to the rigorous Connectathon testing, encourages open exploration of emerging technologies and IHE profiles. The event is structured around dedicated tracks that cater to specific areas of interest, offering participants an opportunity for dynamic exchange of ideas and knowledge, bridging the gap between user needs, vendor solutions, existing standards and harvesting industry innovations!
There will be five tracks offered at the Plugathon, one of which is focused on Canadian Interoperability. You can learn more about the other four tracks offered at the Plugathon here.
During the Canadian Interoperability track you will have the opportunity to collaborate with Canadian architects and standards experts on key national interoperability challenges, with the potential for these profiles to evolve into international standards. Your expertise will directly influence the future of healthcare interoperability in Canada!
Plugathon Specifications
The specifications that will be highlighted at the Plugathon are listed in the table below.
- To access the specification documentation, click on the corresponding specification link in the Version column.
| Specification | Version | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| pan-Canadian eReferral / eConsult | CA:eReC v1.0.2 DFT | Central Model |
| pan-Canadian FHIR Exchange | CA:FeX v2.1.0 DFT-preBallot | |
| pan-Canadian Care Service Delivery | CA:CSD v1.0.0 DFT-preBallot | |
| pan-Canadian Core FHIR Profile Set | CA Core+ v0.3.0 DFT-preBallot | |
| Health Application Lightweight Protocol (HALO) | Coming soon | |
pan-Canadian Shareable Health Links (CA:SHL), contained within the Reference Architecture, in relation to the patient-mediated access use case (UC-05) contained within the PS-CA v2.0.0 DFT-Ballot | RA v0.2.0 DFT-preBallot | CA:SHL currently resides within the RA specification. Future releases may be stand-alone. |
Plugathon Topics for the Canadian Interoperability Track
Plugathon 2025: Unlocking the Future of Interoperability
Discover, Learn, and Shape the Future of Digital Health
The Canadian Track of the Plugathon is your opportunity to dive deep into Canada’s digital health interoperability efforts, provide thought leadership, and collaborate on cutting-edge initiatives. Through interactive sessions, demonstrations, and collaborative discussions, you’ll gain valuable insights from your fellow attendees and contribute to the frameworks, standards, and systems shaping the future of healthcare.
Why Attend?
- Hands-On Learning: Engage directly with key interoperability standards.
- Real-World Insights: See live demos, hear success stories, and explore challenges and solutions.
- Collaborative Networking: Connect and collaborate with healthcare leaders, developers, and innovators.
- Shaping the Future: Contribute to discussions that influence Canada’s digital health roadmap.
Program Highlights
1. Pan-Canadian Digital Health Interoperability Roadmap Highlights and Insights
Get the big picture! Discover how the interoperability roadmap incorporates interdependent building blocks like PS-CA, CA:FeX, and CA Core+ to create a unified healthcare system.
2. Patient-Mediated Access and Demonstration with PS-CA & CA:SHL
Explore the use of CA:SHL for patient-mediated access, how it’s evolving into Verifiable Health Links, and how it enables patient-centric data sharing. Witness a live demonstration showcasing how patients can securely access and share their health data through Sharable Health Links, with insights into deployment challenges, benefits, and lessons learned.
3. Regulated APIs and Framework Refinement with CA:FeX
Dive into the “recipe” for crafting compliant, secure, and interoperable APIs in healthcare. Real-world examples from vendors, such as Venuiti, will inspire innovative thinking as we jointly consider potential improvements that can launch CA:FeX into an international approach.
4. Data Management with CA:eReC & CA:CSD
Explore how to manage large datasets, maintain real-time data accuracy, and standardize queries for seamless system interoperability. Learn best practices for data maintenance, bulk exports, query parameters, and have a role in evolving the future of the pan-Canadian eReferral/eConsult specifications.
5. Testing Readiness and Gap Analysis with CA Core+
Prepare for system validation with a focus on testing tools, workflows, and environments. This session will identify interoperability challenges and provide actionable steps to enhance conformance and functionality.
6. HALO Sessions
Delve into key elements of an innovative interoperability approach that can reduce the design and development burden on vendors and accelerate connected care. See British Columbia’s implementation of HALO in action and support further development of the specification, covering practical applications and innovative developments in digital health interoperability.
Who Should Attend the Plugathon?
- Developers and product managers involved in digital health.
- Business analysts and standards experts focused on interoperability.
- Leaders shaping healthcare technology strategy.
- Facilitators and QA teams preparing for conformance programs.
Plugathon Registration Link
Make an Impact
Join us at Plugathon 2025 to connect, collaborate, and contribute to Canada’s digital health future. Register today to secure your spot!