Why Communication About SNOMED CT® is Important

We looked at accessing the SNOMED CT® terminology through the SNOMED CT® browser (see this post).

Certain terms and conditions need to be accepted in order to become a sub-licensee of the  SNOMED CT® browser. Particularly relevant for writing these posts are two terms in the license. The first is that the browser is used to explore and evaluate the terminology. This fits with the purpose of these posts.

As a sub-licensee I have also agreed not to share the SNOMED CT® content. This does mean that rather than share the specific terminology, what I will do is describe the returned terminology. Without this description it is difficult to communicate about the use of this terminology.

Communication is essential at a time when this terminology has become an international standard. Clinicians benefit from clear examples and this is also needed when comparing classification systems (e.g. ICD-11). At a time where the terminology is being adopted across healthcare systems and is being used for reporting, efficient communication about the terminology and training is essential.

SNOMED CT® also promises something very significant for the future of medicine – an increasing descriptive clarity that will also facilitate research. This is why it is important to foster the conversation as early as possible but also to clarify the ‘rules’ of the conversation as effectively as possible.

Appendix A – Other Posts in the Series on Health Information Exchanges

A Literature Review of 40 years of SNOMED

Arizona Statewide Health Information Exchange

A History of The Health Information Exchange in Pennsylvania

The Arkansas Health Information Exchange – SHARE

The California Health Information Exchange – Cal Index

Creating a Health Information Exchange in Arizona

Health Information Exchanges

Health Information Exchanges and Chronic Conditions

HIPPA and Health Information Exchanges

ICD-11 and SNOMED CT®

ICD-SNOMED-CT® Harmonisation

ICD-1 – Well…near enough

ICD-2

ICD-3

ICD-4

ICD-5

ICD-6

ICD-7

ICD-8

ICD-9

ICD-10

ICD-11

Körner Data and SNOMED: A Snapshot from 1988

Mapping ICD 9 (or 10) to SNOMED CT®

Over 1 Million Relationships: SNOMED CT ®

SNOMED CT® International Browser

Standardisation of Health Information Technology in New Zealand

Statisticians were Responsible for the Development of an International Classification of Diseases

Why Do We Need Electronic Record Systems to Talk to Each Other

Appendix B – Definition of Health Information Exchange

This is the definition of the Health Information Exchange that I use (Hersh et al, 2015)

‘Health information exchange (HIE), the electronic sharing of clinical information across the boundaries of health care organizations‘

Index: There are indices for the TAWOP site here and here

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