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Explore the Value of SNOMED CT

This interactive platform presents SNOMED CT stakeholder value propositions along with evidence that SNOMED CT adds measurable value to a broad range of primary and secondary health processes leveraging SNOMED CT encoded data to deliver improved patient outcomes. 

SNOMED CT is a best-in-class, core clinical reference terminology that is well-designed, comprehensive, serves multiple uses, is widely adopted, and enables improved patient outcomes

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Question

A core clinical reference terminology

Several names are given to systems of standardized terms or concepts, such as SNOMED CT.  It can be referred to as a terminology, a vocabulary, or a lexicon. These names are all synonymous.


The semantic network features of SNOMED CT are the same as what exists in ontologies.  SNOMED CT is a terminology built on an ontological foundation (i.e. it looks and acts like an ontology).


Ideally, controlled terminologies (vocabularies) should have twelve features, as outlined in the seminal article by Dr. James Cimino. SNOMED CT does in fact adhere to all the twelve features, some of which allow it to be differentiated from other classification systems. As a terminology, SNOMED CT is fit-for-purpose.


The European-wide ASSESS CT project, integrated a broad range of stakeholders, and investigated the fitness of the international clinical terminology SNOMED CT as a potential standard for EU-wide eHealth deployments. Assess CT deemed  SNOMED CT the best available core reference terminology for cross-border, national and regional eHealth deployments in Europe.

Answer

What is
SNOMED CT?

Understand SNOMED CT through the example of Viral Pneumonia

5 things that make SNOMED CT unique

Core Reference Terminology

SNOMED CT is integrated to over 20 other clinical terminologies and classification systems.  It is the core reference terminology in the clinical terminology ecosystem.

Content

For terminologies “content is paramount”. SNOMED CT, with over 350,000 concepts is the most comprehensive and fine-grained clinical terminology.  It has 3-4 times more content than the next largest clinical terminologies.

Semantic Network

SNOMED CT has a machine-readable semantic network, whereas other terminologies do not. SNOMED CT's semantic network differentiates it from other clinical terminologies, especially in its capability to carry out analytics and research.

Broad Use

SNOMED CT is commonly used for documenting problem lists, procedures, clinical findings and diseases in clinical information, health data and analytics and interoperability solutions.

National Mandates

SNOMED CT is mandated for use in many countries, most notably:
​​

  • U.S.A. with Meaningful Use

  • U.K.’s NHS policy that all GP systems will use SNOMED CT

  • Australia mandating SNOMED CT as the preferred national solution for a clinical terminology as endorsed by the Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council.

The value of SNOMED CT for stakeholders

Where is SNOMED CT used?

SNOMED CT-embedded Clinical Information Systems, Health Data & Analytics Platforms, and/or Interoperability Solutions are used in the following ways

Research

Conducting clinical research, laboratory research and scientific research.

Data Entry and Integration

The recording & integration of SNOMED CT in clinical information systems and health data & analytics platforms.

Clinical Information Sharing

The electronic exchange of clinical data and documents among Care Providers along the continuum of care, often using interoperability

solutions.

Research

Creating historical summaries, doing point-of-care reporting and using clinical decision support.

Population Analytics

Conducting trend & comparative analysis, pharmacovigilence and clinical audit.

Management Analytics

Conducting trend & comparative analysis and health system value analysis.

SNOMED CT Case Studies

A Demonstrated Case for Investment: Real World Use

AEHRC and CSIRO (Australia)

a look into the current and future possibilities for SNOMED CT use in artificial intelligence.

Honghu Public Health Surveillance (COVID-19)

a description of the SNOMED-CT-embedded Honghu Hybrid System that supported policy makers and public health officials with COVID-19 surveillance and control

OHDSI

the SNOMED CT-embedded OMOP CDM, and the benefits obtained from research projects using the OHDSI research collaborative

University of Nebraska Medical Centre

the benefits obtained from the SNOMED CT-embedded i2B2 data warehouse and its use for clinical and translational research

Northern Queensland Primary Health Network and the Mackay Hospital and Health Service

an economic evaluation of the Mackay SNOMED CT-embedded HealthPathways implementation

University of Cambridge Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

the benefits derived from a SNOMED CT-embedded eHospital clinical information system, patient portal and a health data & analytics platform

Barts NHS Trust and the East London Health and Care Partnership

the benefits derived from a SNOMED CT-embedded Cerner clinical information system and a regional EHR and data & analytics platform

North York General Hospital

the benefits obtained from a SNOMED CT-embedded eCare clinical decision support system

Kaiser Permanente

the benefits derived from a SNOMED CT-embedded HealthConnect clinical information system and patient portal, as well as analytics and research

Veterans Health Administration

the cost benefit analysis of the SNOMED CT-embedded VistA system, as well as the benefits derived from the Veterans Health Information Exchange (VHIE).

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The Case for Investment identifies why a country invests resources to implement SNOMED CT.

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Why would a country or hospital entity invest resources to implement SNOMED CT?

Desired Value + Potential Value + Demonstrated Value + Future Value
What value does a country or healthcare entity desire from a clinical terminology? 
What potential value does SNOMED CT provide to a specific country or a healthcare entity?
What demonstrated value has SNOMED CT provided to a country or a healthcare entity in the past?
What are the future opportunities for SNOMED CT?

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