This series of technical papers is published several times a year. These documents are in Adobe Acrobat format. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader you may download it for free from the Adobe website.

The Role of IT in the Operations of Biospecimen Repositories
Author: Jack K. Golabek, P.Eng, AIM Inc.

This paper discusses IT requirements and features relating to tissue collection and inventory management, data collection and document management, producing valuable tissue/data products, and compliance with emerging standards and regulations.

TransMed EDI: Robust Connectivity Features and Open Standards
Authors: Jack K. Golabek, P.Eng, AIM Inc.

TransMed EDI™ was developed specifically to handle healthcare information and includes features such as auto-encoding of message data to systematized nomenclatures, semantic filtering, and of course, HL7 messaging. Robust connectivity is assured through adherence to various standards in both the health informatics and software industries.

TransMed EDI: Security Protocols
Authors: Jack K. Golabek, P.Eng, AIM Inc.

TransMed EDI™ includes a self-managed PKI mechanism and transaction security protocol that encrypts data in transit and guarantees that sender and receiver are authenticated. This protocol uses industry standard cryptographic technologies, provided to TransMed EDI™ through the Microsoft Cryptography API, which is part of Microsoft Windows '98, 2000, and Windows NT and XP operating systems. This paper also discusses how third-party certificate authentication may be supported in future releases of TransMed EDI™.

TransMed EDI: Factors Affecting Storage Requirements in TransMed EDI
Authors: Michael L. Leger, AIM Inc.

In 1999-2000, an electronic Pathology Information Management System (PIMS) was tested and implemented in Ontario, Canada. Initial tests of automated electronic case finding using SNOMED auto-coding indicate that significant improvements in data collection can be made.

E-Path: Electronic Reporting to State/Provincial Cancer Registries
Authors: Jack K. Golabek, P.Eng, Michael L. Leger, AIM Inc.; Eric Holowaty, MD, FRCP(C), MSc, Darlene Dale, BSc, CCHRA(A) Cancer Care Ontario

In 1999-2000, an electronic Pathology Information Management System (PIMS) was tested and implemented in Ontario, Canada. Initial tests of automated electronic case finding using SNOMED auto-coding indicate that significant improvements in data collection can be made.

Electronic Data Interchange
Authors: Jack K. Golabek, P.Eng, Michael L. Leger, AIM Inc.

In order to reap the full benefit of information technology, the health care industry must be able to share information, in near real time, across its many separate components and institutions, such as hospitals, laboratories, clinics, etc. To be effective, the exchange method must be highly automated, event driven, secure, and reliable so that it integrates seamlessly with the daily workflow of practitioners.

Disease Monitoring and Registration
Author: P.J. Brueckner, MD, FRCP(C), AIM Inc.

The evolution of disease monitoring and surveillance systems in response to advances in medicine and health policy has been greatly facilitated by developments in database technology and Internet communications. Geographic distance is no longer a constraint to data collection and operations, but standardization is essential.

AIM grants to all parties, without written agreement and without license or royalty fees, limited rights to use, copy, and distribute this information for academic purposes, provided AIM's copyrights are acknowledged on all copies and excerpted materials.