IHE Connect-a-thon

1. IHEConnect-a-thon One of the main three activities of IHE beside the continuing update of the technical framework and the demonstration of the results to the users is the connect-a-thon. The aim is to offer a vendor independent platform towards the industry to test their systems concerning IHE-compliance. In the preparation phase each system is tested against specially developed computer programs, the MESA-tools. The report about this has to be sent to the organizing Technical Manager. During the one week lasting connect-a-thon systems of different vendors are connected via ethernet and a simulation of real patient data is performed. All information exchanges are carefully observed and errors in the communication between systems are identified. After bug fixation new tests will prove the correct behaviour of the systems. After having passed the connect-a-thon the performed integration profile and used actor are listed in a participants matrix, which is made public through the IHE-home pages. The European connect-a-thon is supported by the EC granting financial support for the European Technical Manager. It is financed in large parts by the participating vendors. • 2001, Paris, F: 13 vendors > 20 systems • 2002, Paris, F: 33 vendors > 60 systems • 2003, Aachen, D:47 vendors > 85 systems