...
Currently, the CA:SHL includes minimal information, as the profile is in the process of being contributed to IHE (Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise) with the aim of becoming an internationally recognized Integration Profile. Until the international integration profile is available, the initial content for CA:SHL v0.0.1 DFT is published within the Reference Architecture ( RA v0.2.0 DFT-preBallot ) release. This approach serves as a temporary measure until the final profile is established.
...
- Enables patients to create, share, and manage their health data using standardized operations based on HL7 standards.
- Facilitates convenient access to health information through easily shareable links, such as QR codes.
- Enhances patient control over their health data, allowing them to decide who can access their information.
- Promotes seamless coordination and collaboration among healthcare providers by providing timely and accurate health information.
- Supports improved continuity of care through efficient data sharing during patient transitions across different care settings.
Security Considerations
...
When creating, sharing, and consuming clinical data using CA:SHL, it is crucial to also ensure the privacy, authenticity, and integrity of the information through encryption and digital signatures.
- CA:SHL is the subject of international collaboration at IHE International, with the IHE ITI committee approving the initiative to evolve SHLinks and advance it into Verifiable Health Links, by adding a structured and robust security approach in future iterations.
- Any exchange of SHLinks must be governed by a robust trust framework that ensure security and provenance. Implementations that do not employ high-level security measures, such as digital signatures and robust encryption, are not recommended and are strongly discouraged.
- CA:SHL is a building block that is meant to be used together with added security measures, otherwise it is not suitable for exchange in environments where security and provenance cannot be reliably established by other means.