Introduction
The Projectathon 2023 is another important step, and continues to be the best-practice approach, in testing and validation of the specification package, where implementers collaborate to test their solutions using methodology and tools that accelerate interoperability.
The first pan-Canadian Projectathon was held in March 2022 to test and improve the quality of the pan-Canadian Patient Summary Interoperability Specifications (PS-CA Specifications) to ensure they are implementable, testable and meet expectations. Details about this event are available in the pan-Canadian Projectathon Final Report.
The March 2023 Projectathon will be dedicated to supporting Patient Summary implementation projects across Canada.
On October 17th, 2022, the Specifications package was approved by the Interoperability Executive Table to be adopted and used by jurisdictions and vendors for Trial Implementation.
The PS-CA is based on and is closely aligned to the IPS. It addresses both the content of a well formed Patient Summary document using the FHIR standard version 4.0.1, as well as the exchange mechanisms as listed in the Reference Architecture. Version 1.0.0 TI of the specification package has been updated to offer guidance towards a secure, access-controlled exchange of documents over the internet.
The Specifications package for the Projectathon 2023 includes the:
- pan-Canadian Patient Summary Specifications: PS-CA v1.0.0 TI; and two supporting specifications:
- pan-Canadian FHIR Exchange: CA:FeX v1.0.0 TI
- Reference Architecture: RA v0.1.1 DFT
Trial Implementation
The Trial Implementation maturity-level designation indicates that a specification is deemed ready for trial implementation in production systems for limited scale projects to meet a health care interoperability need. It has been cycled through public open review periods with jurisdictions and industry partners with all feedback dispositioned, changes incorporated and where appropriate, backlog items identified for a future release. A TI designated specification has been tested and validated, at a Projectathon, where implementers collaborate to test their solutions using methodologies and tools that accelerate interoperability and verify that the specification is deemed ready for trial implementation. Trial implementation is one step closer in the evolution of a final specification, when it is deemed ready for certification.
Testing & Tools Overview
Vendors will have an opportunity to test and demonstrate capabilities in two distinct areas of the specification:
- Document format and content
- Secure, exchange transactions
1. Document format and content
The PS-CA FHIR Content Data model will be tested using a combination of test data and validation tooling.
- The PS-AB and PS-ON specifications are very closely aligned to the PS-CA and should be supported by minimal configuration of capability in the vendor systems.
- The test cases will highlight where configuration is needed and test that it is applied properly, based on claimed vendor conformance.
- The Projectathon will offer an assessment of the FHIR document against the ON and AB implementation guidance as represented in the PS-ON and PS-AB specifications, in addition to the PS-CA.
2. Secure, exchange transactions
Implementation patterns may differ from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and information exchange channels may vary in terms of their security footprint.
Therefore, the Projectathon test cases have been organized into two categories:
| Category 1: Test cases that test individual actor capabilities in isolation E.g., how a system can handle encrypted transactions, how a system can handle a CA:FeX transaction, how a system can handle an OAuth 2 token exchange, etc. |
| Category 2: Complex test cases that group individual actor capabilities with other relevant actor capabilities to simulate real world scenarios. E.g., how a patient summary creator system can submit the document to a repository by using an OAuth 2 integration, etc. |
Training, Tools & Support Overview
Infoway will provide training webinars to support the use of the tools and integrations with the Gazelle test framework. Once registered, vendors will be provided with early access to the Gazelle platform for self / pre-Projectathon testing. In addition to Gazelle, Infoway will provide a number of testing tools, including Simulators, Emulators and Validators to support the exchange patterns listed in the PS-CA specification. A test package will be provided including scenarios for single tests and group testing, along with data set to support document format and content validation for the PS-CA, PS-ON and PS-AB.
Projectathon Results
Projectathon results will be collected into a report on the individual and group actor transactions that vendor systems have proven capabilities in supporting.
- This feature capability assessment can support jurisdictional integration efforts in assessing vendors conformance to their respective deployment models.
- Results can be analyzed from the relevant actor/transactions that align to local architectures.
Projected Benefit for Vendors
What's Next: High-Level Timeline
Stay tuned! More information on the detailed scope and logistics of the event coming soon!