Achieving semantic interoperability (SIOP) of electronic health information is a key ambition of projects funded by the European Commission. A recent business modeling workshop has analyzed how a European Virtual Organisation can help focus current development efforts in this field.

The workshop held in Munich on September 12th 2013 assembled representatives of national governments, international standardization organizations, health insurers and ongoing EC projects active in the field of standardization. There was lively debate on the vision, mission and values of a European Virtual Organisation. Using business modeling methodology, the participants discussed customized value propositions of a future European Virtual Organisation, tailored to each major stakeholder (policy-makers, healthcare professionals, research etc.) within the potential value chain. Agreement was reached that the certification and quality labeling of existing semantic resources is a desirable service that could be offered through a future European Virtual Organisation.

For more information on the SemanticHealthNet project and its activities, please consult http://www.semantichealthnet.eu/