NEMA initiative addresses international security regs

December 13, 2000

Prompted by pending security and privacy regulations in Japan, the U.S., and Europe, the Medical Imaging Informatics section of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) has launched a privacy and security initiative. The initiative has the goal of reducing incompatibility and design complexities that could be introduced when vendors seek to make their products comply with various final and pending regulations that address security and privacy of electronic data. These include HIPAA in the U.S., Japan's HPB 517, and Europe's EC 95/46 Directive.

NEMA and the European Coordination Committee of the Radiological and Electromedical Industry have approached their Japanese equivalent organization, Japan Industries Association of Radiation Apparatus, to join the initiative. Vendors and other organizations can also participate. The associations hope to address specifics, such as remote serviceability of equipment, service access guidelines, and audit trails.