March 11, 2007:
The Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation endorsement of 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." http://www.apsf.org/initiatives/interoperability.mspx

April 2008:
The Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) endorsement of interoperability:
"SAGES 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.  SAGES 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."

July 2008:
The World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists (WFSA) endorsement of interoperability:
"WFSA 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.  WFSA 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.
The WFSA realizes the great variability in anesthesia delivery worldwide. In those countries where technology has evolved to a high level, these recommendations should be analyzed for possible implementation. In those countries still developing their technological monitoring, this document should serve as a guide for how safe and coordinated monitoring could be applied."
Complete statement is located on the WFSA website: http://www.anaesthesiologists.org/en/latest/interoperability-of-medical-devices.html

October 19, 2008
The Society for Technology in Anesthesia (STA) endorsement of interoperability:
STA 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.  STA 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.

October 22, 2008
The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) endorsement of interoperability:
The 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.  The 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.

November 15 2008:
The Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS) endorsement of interoperability:
The MMS believes that intercommunication and interoperability of electronic medical devices (e.g. noninvasive blood pressure cuffs, EKGs, pulse oximeters) 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.  The MMS 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.

June 2009:
The American Medical Association (AMA) endorsement of interoperability:
"The following is a preliminary report of actions taken by the House of Delegates at its June 2009 Annual Meeting and should not be considered final. Only the Official Proceedings of the House of Delegates reflect official policy of the Association."

AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION HOUSE OF DELEGATES (A-09) Resolution 519:
“RESOLVED, That our American Medical Association (AMA) 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. Our AMA 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 optimum patient safety, efficiency, and outcome benefit while preserving incentives to ensure continuing innovation.”

Note: The Missouri , Illinois, Indiana, New York, and Michigan State Medical Associations, and the Endocrine Society, American Pharmaceutical Manufacturers, the Urology Society, and American College of Pathology all spoke in favor of this resolution.

Excerpted from <http://www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/475/a-09-ref-comm-e-annotated.pdf>