Governance

An effective and transparent governance structure is essential for any service that a community will contribute to, use, and leverage to support critical decisions. CDS Connect is such a resource, especially as it aims to support clinical decisions with the potential to impact the health of people.

The Governance structure for CDS Connect is an evolving framework created to promote trust and allow input from community members. The roles below cover ownership and maintenance of CDS Connect, as well as roles involved in contributing resources to CDS Connect.

Organization Management Roles

Each CDS Connect resource is owned and operated by a Governing Organization (or a consortium of organizations).

Governing Organization (GO)

Organization that owns and oversees CDS Connect

Currently AHRQ is serving as the Governing Organization (GO) for CDS Connect

Governing Organization Lead (GO Lead)

Represents the GO on all matters related to the CDS Connect resource.

Governor

Oversees and administers all activity within CDS Connect from a technical, process and systems perspective.

As of August 29, 2024, the Governor role shifted to AHRQ as part of transition.

Contributory Roles

Publishing Organization (PO)

Legally owns and is responsible for an Artifact from the clinical content perspective, including best efforts to review and maintain CDS Artifacts that are Active for clinical use and not Experimental. In some instances, an individual could be the Author, Publishing Organization Lead, and Publishing Organization.

Publishing Organization Lead

Represents the PO as the decision maker for all the organization’s activities within CDS Connect.

Author

Contributor to creation and modification of a CDS Artifact, but not necessarily the Publishing Organization or its Lead, who are the stewards and responsible parties for the CDS Artifact.

Diagram of the governance roles hierarchy

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