Hot Topic: Technology Innovation and Healthcare

Chuck Adams has put a business-oriented stamp on his academic and professional career in engineering and computer science. Currently, as Program Director of Standards and Open Source at IBM, he is responsible for worldwide standardization and intellectual property coordination, as well as global open source software policy management. He is the IEEE Standards Association President-Elect and Chair of the International Strategy Committee.

IEEE: You are involved in developing global standards. How does that work with medical-device standards?
      
Adams: The medical standards are our precursor into joint development activity with the International Standards Organization. Jointly developing these standards with ISO broadens the awareness and usability of the technology, moving the standards down to the national level, so that countries adopt them as national standards.
      
IEEE: Is IEEE working internationally with businesses as well?
      
Adams: Yes, and by working with Continua Healthcare Alliance (a large, cross-industry consortium formed in 2006 in response to demands for interoperability from the consumer-health movement) we are seeing the standards develop into actual devices and products.
      
IEEE:  Do manufacturers compete with each other during the formation of standards, and if so, how does IEEE handle this?
  
Adams: IEEE is able to take a leadership role in addressing the future needs of global healthcare interoperability requirements. In short, it creates a level playing field. The creation of standards involves an open consensus process, meaning all interested parties can participate. We’ve established common protocols and data structures for the delivery of information.

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