Archived "What is a Profile?" description as of 08.19.2011

__

• A Profile is a document.

• It tells a user what can be accomplished by following the Profile. ("Profile Claims")

E.g. you will be able to detect volume changes of greater than <20%> in Stage IV Lung Nodules which are <5mm> in diameter or greater.

• It tells a vendor what they must implement in their product to state compliance with the Profile. ("Profile Details")

E.g. to comply, the scanner must be able to:

• scan a <Mark-324> Chest Phantom, identify the smallest resolvable target, display the diameter of that target
• demonstrate resolving targets at least as small as <2mm> diameter on the Mark-324 phantom
• scan patients according to the ACRIN NLST acquisition protocol

E.g. to comply, the quantification application must be able to:

• segment a nodule (automatically or manually), derive the volume, store it in a DICOM object
• run a user through a set of test data with known volumes and at the end display an accuracy score

• It may also tell the user staff what they must do for the Profile Claims to be realized. ("Profile Details")

E.g. to comply, the site CT techs must be able to:

• scan the patient within 10 minutes of contrast injection

E.g. to comply, the radiologist must be able to:

• achieve a score of <95%> or better using their segmentation application on the <Lung Invaders> test set.

How do Profiles fit in the IHE Process?

The Profile concept and process has been borrowed from IHE

• Users identify a high priority multi-system problem.

• Vendors & Users collaborate to document a standards-based solution (a Profile).

• Vendors confirm it works by testing their implementations with other vendors (a Connectathon)

How does QIBA differ from IHE?

• IHE mostly profiles engineering problems. QIBA also tackles scientific problems.

• When a profile claim is unvalidated or a profile detail cannot be defined until further research is done:
  • IHE declares the profile premature and sets it aside until such groundwork is completed
  • QIBA locates, encourages, and if necessary coordinates, getting the research completed so the profile can proceed