During its 13th Annual Conference, HISI announced the launch of the first Irish register of health informatics professionals. In a climate of increasing concern about standards and efficiency in the health service, HISI recognises the crucial role played by health informatics professionals in the development and maintenance of ICT policies and structures.

Expertise is essential for effective use of ICT, and with fewer than 1000 dedicated ICT staff out of approximately 160,000 working in healthcare in Ireland, this lack of skilled resources is a real barrier to the use of ICT.

I-CHIP, the Irish Council for Health Informatics Professions, will provide a register and classification of health informatics professional in Ireland. Health informatics deals with the practical application of computing and communications technology in healthcare. It incorporates the design and optimisation of information systems that support clinical practice, public health and research, outlining best practices in healthcare delivery and public health management.

Patient safety relies on the information that supports clinical and management decision making, and therefore on the professionals who process that information. I-CHIP will promote a voluntary register of Health Informatics professionals who work to standards that are clearly defined, providing individuals and employers with a recognised framework for professional recognition and development, ensuring the protection of the public from the consequences of lack of regulation.

I-CHIP aims to advance the application of informatics in the promotion of health and well-being, and to uphold and improve the standards of qualifications and competence in informatics. It will collaborate with other professional associations and with UKCHIP on relevant matters.

I-CHIP verifies registrants' level of expertise through assessment and comparison against the industry standard Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA), enabling participants to plan career advancement in a structured manner.

I-CHIP will provide a comprehensive register of HI professionals, and accommodate people who work directly and indirectly with ICT in healthcare, at every level. The register comprises many professional roles including: Managers, Clinicians, ICT staff, Administrative staff , Health records staff, Information management staff, Clinical informatics staff, Researchers, Educationalists and Commercial suppliers.

I-CHIP will be governed by the I-CHIP Council, comprising an expert Health Informatics panel.