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Emergencies demand real time data and all phases of emergency response depend on data from a variety of sources. This need for data underscores the need for data standards. Without standards and common terms, widespread information sharing cannot occur. By standardizing data elements across domains and reusing these data elements in message standards, the data interoperability dream can become a reality across the entire emergency response community. For many, XML (eXtensible Markup Language) holds the promise for data interoperability and information sharing across emergency response professions and jurisdictions.
THE NEED
Since data sharing is a new paradigm for the emergency response community, one of the biggest issues facing the implementation of information sharing across domains and jurisdictions is the lack of shared data standards. This deficiency reinforces old processes that depend on voice and paper for communicating information and does little to advance emergency response.
The lack of data standards also means that there is lack of common data vocabularies – especially when communication is across professional domains.
COMCARE'S APPROACH
As an organization, COMCARE has participated in numerous XML data standards development efforts. COMCARE’s efforts fall into two major categories: messaging standards and terminology standards. Messaging standards specify “how” electronic messages should be formatted or structured. Terminology standards deal with the content or vocabularies of the actual data elements, basically the “what” of the message.
COMCARE supports standards development efforts that use a “grass roots” bottom-up approach, bringing emergency response practitioners together to draft specifications based on specific emergency response scenarios. Once complete, specifications are validated through live demonstrations, revised and then submitted to a standards governing body, such as the Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards (OASIS). COMCARE has participated on the following standards development efforts:
CAP, VEDS and EDXL are all consumers and re-users of terminology or data dictionary content. When possible, data elements are harmonized with the Global Justice XML Data Model and the National Information Exchange Model. So that other domains can contribute, COMCARE is launching a project to create the top 100 emergency terms used across professions. Called “Common Terms,” this practitioner-led initiative will examine existing XML standards work done by hospitals, public health, emergency medical services, transportation, public safety and the commercial world to standardize terms, definitions, and values for incorporation into NIEM.
FROM VISION TO REALITY
CAP 1.1 has recently been released by OASIS for use . The EDXL Distribution Element is currently out for comments by OASIS for a potential release in early 2006. The EDXL Resource Messaging standard is currently being field tested in a number of regional demonstrations. Efforts are underway to determine the next set of standards that need to be developed.
VEDS 1.0 is currently being used by OnStar in a Department of Transportation test being conducted in Minnesota and in a test in Orlando, FL to send crash data directly into its 9-1-1 Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system. The VEDS working group is meeting shortly to discuss the harmonization of data elements with the Global Justice XML Data Model and will determine if VEDS should be incorporated into the EDXL process.
For more information of these standards efforts, please contact standards@comcare.org.
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