It has been over a year since the last interRAI Newsletter, but it has been quite a year for interRAI. 

The work of interRAI has gradually expanded into new fields from its beginnings in long term care and community aged care, to encompass mental health, disability services, hospital care and most recently paediatrics.  To enable a wider group of contributors, it has become necessary to re-arrange our structure to enable a wider group of contributors. 

We have created 3 major working groups (or "interRAI Networks") focussing on integrated care and aging (iNICA); acute hospital care (iNAC) and mental health (iNMH); we may form more in the future as newer applications mature or we develop new instruments. These groups meet at least yearly in person, and frequently by teleconference to promote instrument development and research in their respective fields.  Every two years, interRAI as a whole will meet to be sure that information is shared across the Networks. Coalescing these groups is the interRAI central "Instrument and Systems Development" committee, which sets policy around instrument development, reviews scientific developments, and is the final arbiter of new systems.  Other working groups attend to general policy and operations.  interRAI membership now approaches 100 members from 35 nations.

interRAI's fundamental mission and our values remain unchanged; we continue to focus on the use of science to support decision-making in the health care field, and remain dedicated to be an independent, non-profit, voluntary organization. 
 
In April 2016, interRAI will conduct it first global "open" conference in Toronto, Canada in conjunction with its own plenary meeting.  This conference will bring together all interRAI members as well as a much wider community of people who have an interest or engagement with interRAI.  This meeting will be widely publicised, including in future editions of this newsletter.