Technical Steering Committee
Mission
The HL7 Technical Steering Committee’s (TSC) mission is to provide technical leadership to the HL7 organization to achieve the vision of creating a world in which everyone can securely access and use the right health data when and where they need it. The TSC oversees and coordinates the technical efforts contributed by the HL7 participants to ensure that the efforts of the Working Group are focused on the overall HL7 mission to provide standards that empower global health data interoperability.
TSC will provide input to the HL7 Board of Directors and implement any Board strategies impacting the Working Group. The TSC provides oversight of the Working Group activities related to the development of HL7 standards.
Charter
The TSC is responsible for overseeing the execution of standards development within HL7 by assuring that the efforts of the Working Group are in line with the strategy set forth by the Board.
The TSC develops and maintains the processes HL7 follows to develop standards. The broad structure is based upon the separation of governance, management, and methodology.
The TSC oversees the development of methodologies and work processes to be used by the Working Group in developing HL7 consensus-based standards specifications.
The TSC oversees the management function of the Work Groups and manages the health and project workload of the Work Groups.
The TSC establishes standards governance precepts based on the needs of Work Groups, product families, and service groups. The TSC establishes management groups to assure that the product family-related work is performed in a consistent manner across the Working Group.
The TSC works with the Chief Standards Development Officer (CSDO) and HL7 staff to serve as the primary communication vehicle for the technical operations of HL7, communicating status and guidelines regarding standards and operations.
The composition of the TSC is described in section 10 of the GOM, and additional ex officio membership as described in section 07: Board Chair, Board Vice Chair, and Immediate Board Past-Chair.
Work Products and Contributions to HL7 Processes
The Technical Steering Committee (TSC) operates – and expects the Working Group to operate – in accordance with the following principles:
- recognize and respect the contributions and ideas of the individuals who make up the Working Group;
- maintain an effective focus on the goals and strategic plan of HL7;
- assure that all major decisions are based on consensus of the stakeholders consistent with all bylaws, HL7 Essential Requirements, Governance and Operations Manual (GOM), and TSC processes;
- maximize sharing and "re-use" of work products between elements of the Working Group;
- use a project management approach to ensure that project goals are articulated and met;
- address any conflict between the members of the Working Group; and
- ensure that HL7 standards are developed on a solid foundation that promotes consistency and interoperability.
Formal Relationships With Other HL7 Groups
Formal Relationships with Other HL7 Groups
The TSC Chair has a seat on the HL7 Board as specified in section 7 of the GOM.
The TSC may recommend representation on HL7 Board or other committees, but such recommendations are subject to the normal approval process by the Board of Directors of HL7 or as otherwise defined in the GOM. Section 10 of the GOM describes the relationships between the TSC and other groups.
TSC members may also act as liaisons with committees at the discretion of the board or as defined in the GOM, including:
- TSC Representative to the Governance and Operations Committee (GOC)
Formal Relationship With Groups Outside of HL7
When relationships between HL7 and external organizations involve the use by HL7 of a standard or specification developed by the external organization; then the use/specialization/localization of the specification by HL7 is governed by principles and practices specified by the TSC, and the signed Statement of Understand (SOU) between HL7 and the external organization.
Formal relationships between the TSC and groups outside of HL7 shall be governed by any SOU or other agreements between HL7 and the organization as defined by the by the HL7 Board.
For additional information, please visit the TSC C onfluence Site
Decision Making Practices Addendum
Date of Last Revision
October 17, 2022