Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine

Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine (often abbreviated as SNOMED) is a systematic, computer-processable collection of medical terms, in human and veterinary medicine, to provide codes, terms, synonyms and definitions which cover anatomy, diseases, findings, procedures, microorganisms, substances, etc. It is used in electronic health records, health information exchanges, research, and reporting, with mappings to other coding systems (e.g., the ICD, LOINC and RxNorm).

History

SNOMED was started in 1965 as a project of the College of American Pathologists (CAP). The first version of SNOMED was called SNOP (Systematized Nomenclature of Pathology) and was published in 1965. SNOP was expanded into SNOMED, which was first published in 1974. SNOMED has been revised and expanded over the years, with the most recent version being SNOMED CT (Clinical Terms), which was first released in 2002.

Structure

SNOMED CT is designed to be used in electronic health records and other health information systems. It is structured as a hierarchy, with more general concepts at the top and more specific concepts below. Each concept in SNOMED CT has a unique identifier, a fully specified name, and may have one or more synonyms. Concepts are linked by relationships, which define how they are related to each other.

Usage

SNOMED CT is used in more than 50 countries, and is the most comprehensive and precise clinical health terminology product in the world. It is used in a variety of healthcare settings, including primary care, secondary care, and public health.

See also

• Medical classification
• Health informatics
• Medical record
• Electronic health record

External links

• Official SNOMED website