Starting with an interest in harmonizing standard coding in public health, the PHLIP effort quickly expanded to other projects. Many processes, reusable tools, artifacts, and critical content were developed through this evolution. LTIAPH was created to assist public health agencies and laboratories respond to the interoperability requirements created by Meaningful Use specifications, and has leveraged much of the PHLIP experience to speed develop of content and message for public health.

As the Public Health Interoperability Project (PHLIP) moved forward, there was a direct transfer of content and knowledge from the previous efforts, as well as a reuse of process and tools needed for creating standardized vocabulary and implementing electronic messaging.  Examples ot these tools and processes include the data collection sheets, mapping workbook, encoding guideline, web-based glossary , gap analysis tool, specimen cross mapping table and change control process.

PHLIP started in 2006 with a group of public health laboratories interested in harmonizing the LOINC and SNOMED codes.  Through this initial effort processes, conventions and guidelines were formed.    The PHLIP team developed Electronic Laboratory Surveillance Message ( ELSM ) specifications and vocabulary In order to speed implementation, PHLIP created the PHLIP Assistance Team (PAT) approach in early 2010. The processes and documents used for ELSM implementation were reused and modified to create the artifacts required for the lab to lab Electronic lab Test Order and Result (ETOR) use case for surge capacity testing in separate regions, and to connect to the National Salmonella Reference Laboratory at CDC.  

PHLIP reached out to collaborate with similar national efforts and formed the Laboratory and Messaging Community of Practice (LabCoP), to encourage further input and to promote harmonization between the efforts.   Laboratory Technical Interoperability Assistance for Public Health ( LTIAPH) was created to assist public health agencies and laboratories respond to the interoperability requirements created by Meaningful Use specifications, and has leveraged much of the PHLIP experience to speed develop of content and message for public health.