As the HL7 Program Management Office (PMO) moves further into 2026, we’re continuing to build on the momentum from last year. Much of 2025 was focused on improving processes, increasing consistency, and making sure we had the right foundations in place. This year, the focus has shifted to putting those improvements into practice and making them work for us day to day.
A big part of that will be improving how we track and communicate program performance. We expanding our reporting to give better visibility into work group health, risks, and deliverables, which will help both the PMO and HL7 leadership stay ahead of issues and make more informed decisions.
Program and Contract Updates
We’ve fully transitioned into execution mode on the USCDI+ Quality Standard contract, with Anne Wizauer leading coordination and day-to-day management. The team has been focused on setting up the right structure, governance, communication, and deliverable tracking to support the work, with publication expected later this year.
We’re also continuing our work with CMS, supporting both Connectathons and custom training efforts under contract. These collaborations remain an important part of how HL7 supports implementation and adoption of standards in real-world settings.
We’ve implemented a 15% de minimis rate in our C-CDA/FHIR Cooperative Agreement and our 2026 CMS Connectathon Contract. So far, this has resulted in approximately $98,000 in recovered funds, which are being reinvested back into program support and infrastructure. We will continue to add this to all new government funded programs.
On the standards side, the AHIP/Civitas DEMo Questionnaire Implementation Guide will be going to ballot soon, which is an exciting step forward and a great example of cross-industry collaboration.
Operations and Process Improvements
We’re also working on standardizing the Master Service Agreement (MSA) for subcontractors across HL7, including Accelerators. The goal here is to simplify how we engage external partners and make things more consistent across programs.
Our process mapping work is continuing as well. We’re now translating those workflows into more detailed procedures, especially around managing government-funded programs, including annual audits and bi-annual risk assessments. This is helping ensure we stay compliant while also making processes clearer and easier to follow.
Data and Reporting
Another area of focus this year is building out better data and reporting tools. We’ve begun our Tableau training and will work toward developing a Work Group Health Dashboard that will include updated and more meaningful metrics.
The goal is to move toward more automated, data-driven reporting to reduce manual efforts while providing us better insight into trends, participation and overall organizational health.
Team and Community
We’re also continuing to invest in our team. Lynn Laakso has started working toward her PMI CAPM certification, which is great to see and reflects our broader commitment to professional development. In addition, Becca Parsons, PMP, recently completed the Business Contracts credential from Cornell University, further strengthening our expertise in contract management and oversight across HL7 programs.
Additionally, the PMO is partnering with other departments on the 2026 HL7 AI Challenge, which is shaping up to be an exciting initiative.
And on a more personal note, we’re looking forward to connecting with many of you in Rotterdam. It’s always valuable to spend time together in person and continue strengthening the community.
Looking Ahead
For the remainder of 2026, our focus will be executing current programs while building more consistency and visibility across the organization. That includes:
- Continuing progress on the USCDI+ Quality Standard work
- Developing and rolling out the Work Group Health Dashboard
- Expanding standardized processes and reporting
- Supporting stronger coordination across work groups and departments
Overall, the goal is simple: make it easier to manage programs, easier to see what’s working (and what’s not), and ultimately help HL7 continue delivering high-quality standards and support to the community.
