Pathology Messaging Implementation Project
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PMIP (Pathology Messaging Implementation Project)
Initially, started life in the UK as PMEP (Pathology Messaging Enabling Project) under the control of the British Medical Association.
PMIP was designed for the transmission of structured pathology orders and their associated results between pathology and primary care systems. Messages are encapsulated in EDIFACT rather than XML as this work had already been done
Originally messages were to be encrypted end-to-end (organisation-to-organisation) using PKI. NHS subsequently overlooked renewal of licence for this and had to hurriedly instigate an alternative strategy using DTS (Data Transfer Service) whereby messages are encrypted from lab to DTS server, and again from DTS to GP using the PMIP interim messaging crytographic service. The Data Transfer Service (DTS) is a solution for all application-to-application messaging within the NHS as well as providing a replacement for the X.400 service. It also provides easier development capability for the system suppliers at each end site.
All tests and profiles are coded with Read Codes which had initially been developed by a GP, Dr James Read, to describe all aspects of healthcare for his own use and subsequently adopted by the NHS (National Health Service). A subset, known as the Bounded Code List (BCL) was developed specifically for this project. Read Codes have been subsumed into Clinical Terms (CT) which is an enhancement of the American SNOMED (Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine) classification scheme.
[1] Connecting for Health - Pathology
[2] SNOMED CT