Endorsements of Interoperability

	Medical Device "Plug-and-Play" Interoperability Program The MD PnP program is leading the adoption of open standards and technology to interconnect medical devices for improving patient safety and healthcare efficiency

March 11, 2007:
The Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation
has endorsed a statement of support for Interoperability

" The APSF believes that intercommunication and interoperability of devices could lead to important advances in patient safety, and that the standards and protocols to allow such seamless intercommunication should be developed fully with these advances in mind. APSF also recognizes that as in all technologies for patient safety, interoperability poses safety and medicolegal challenges as well. Development of standards and production of interoperable equipment protocols should strike the proper balance to achieve maximum patient safety and outcome benefit."

February 2008:
The Board of Directors of the American Society of Anesthesiologists endorsed the following statement of support for interoperability:
"ASA believes that intercommunication and interoperability of electronic medical devices could lead to important advances in patient safety and patient care, and that the standards and protocols to allow such seamless intercommunication should be developed fully with these advances in mind. ASA also recognizes that, as in all technological advances, interoperability poses safety and medico legal challenges as well. The development of standards and production of interoperable equipment protocols should strike the proper balance to achieve maximum patient safety, efficiency, and outcome benefit."