Semantic interoperability for better health and safer healthcare : deployment and research roadmap for Europe

Development and benefi cial deployment of electronic health record (EHR) systems has been at the heart of the activities of the ICT for Health (or eHealth) unit of the European Commission since its start 20 years ago. Many R&D projects initiated in the early 90's have by now led to various commercial products and regional networks benefi ting European citizens. However, to fully realise the potential of EHR systems we need to ensure a timely and secure access to such systems to all those that are entitled to use them. Moreover, the information contained in EHRs should be up-to-date, accurate and, in its communication to another location, system or language it should be correctly understood. This is called interoperability. Interoperable EHR systems are the most important enabling tools on the road to patient centred care, a lifeline for continuity of care and support to mobility of patients