A survey of SNOMED CT implementations

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Clinical Terminology Management
• Healthcare Information Systems

Background:

• The Systematised Nomenclature of Medicine Clinical Terms (SNOMED CT) is a globally recognized clinical reference terminology.
• It is adopted in over 50 countries for use in clinical information systems.
• Despite widespread adoption, detailed implementation insights remain limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the practical implementation of SNOMED CT.
• To identify design, usage, and maintenance challenges in real-world healthcare settings.
• To understand the factors influencing the routine clinical integration of SNOMED CT.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative study involving 13 healthcare organizations across eight countries.
• Data collection through semi-structured interviews with 14 key individuals involved in SNOMED CT implementation.
• Analysis focused on design, use, and maintenance aspects of SNOMED CT integration.

Main Results:

• Significant effort has been invested in developing and refining SNOMED CT.
• Implementation challenges exist across design, usability, and ongoing maintenance.
• Barriers to routine clinical use require further attention and solutions.

Conclusions:

• SNOMED CT has substantial global reach but faces practical implementation hurdles.
• Further work is necessary to facilitate its seamless integration into daily clinical workflows.
• Addressing identified issues is crucial for realizing the full potential of SNOMED CT in healthcare.