This Western Cape Government use of SNOMED - the first regional user of SNOMED in Africa - may be of interest to HIFA. We were using IC codes and GP Read codes in 1986 when we had our first GP computer record system. Now the UK NHS is committing more to SNOMED. SNOMED for disease classification is perhaps not dissimilar to cladistics for species classification. SNOMED is machine readable and clinician readable and can be linked to many clinical and patient uses. Here is a recent SNOMED extract:
"SNOMED International is a not-for-profit organization that owns, administers and develops SNOMED CT, the world’s most comprehensive clinical terminology."
"The safe, accurate and effective exchange of health information is an essential foundation to improve healthcare around the world. We strive to determine the best global standards for health terminology and to engage with the global healthcare community to improve SNOMED CT and patient safety."
What is the International Patient Summary?
"The International Patient Summary (IPS) is an electronic health record extract containing essential healthcare information for use in the unscheduled, cross-border care scenario, as well as for local, regional and other care scenarios. It is a standardized set of basic clinical data that includes the most important health and care related facts required to ensure safe and secure healthcare.
This minimal and non-exhaustive set of data elements have been defined by ISO/EN 17269 and delivered by HL7 in both CDA and FHIR using a curated set of SNOMED CT terms.”
Link to the website: https://snomed.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b93335bd637a47672825e59...
HIFA profile: Richard Fitton is a retired family doctor - GP. Professional interests: Health literacy, patient partnership of trust and implementation of healthcare with professionals, family and public involvement in the prevention of modern lifestyle diseases, patients using access to professional records to overcome confidentiality barriers to care, patients as part of the policing of the use of their patient data
Email address: richardpeterfitton7 AT gmail.com
