What is SNOMED CT and the AMT?
SNOMED CT is a clinical terminology designed to record clinical information at the point of care. Used in over 90 countries, SNOMED CT is becoming the global language of healthcare. What sets SNOMED CT apart from other terminologies is that the concepts within it are coded and linked. This enables powerful data analysis.
The Australian Medicines Terminology (AMT) is a subset of SNOMED CT-AU relating to medicines.
About SNOMED CT
Highlights
Over 350,000 concepts.- Mandated for use in many countries, including the USA and the UK.
- Each concept is coded and linked to related concepts. Computers can read and interpret these links. Other standards and classification systems like LOINC and ICD-10 do not have this ability.
- Updated every month.
SNOMED CT is the most comprehensive and precise multilingual clinical terminology in the world. It has been accepted as a common global language for health care.
SNOMED CT enables clinicians to record patient data more accurately and comprehensively than any other terminology. Because the concepts are coded and linked, it has become the gold standard throughout the world.
As a common global language, SNOMED CT supports:
- consistent data entry
- analysis of clinical data
- sharing of information between healthcare systems (interoperability).
SNOMED CT benefits healthcare providers, patients, software vendors and humankind.
Diagram: SNOMED CT highlights
About SNOMED CT-AU including the AMT
SNOMED CT-AU contains the core SNOMED CT terms, the Australian extension of clinical terms and the Australian Medicines Terminology (AMT).
Highlights
- Almost 500,000 active concepts.
- Endorsed by all Australian state and territory governments.
- FREE for use by Australian individuals, businesses, health organisations and software vendors (the Australian Government pays for the licence).
- Updated every month.
About the AMT
AMT stands for the Australian Medicines Terminology and it’s a subset of SNOMED CT-AU (in the same way that a chapter is part of a book). It identifies and describes medicines in a standardised format using a set of properties including:
- product trade name
- dosage form
- strength
- pack size and container type.
Diagram: Domains covered by SNOMED CT-AU
About SNOMED International
SNOMED International (formerly known as International Health Terminology Standards Development Organisation – IHTSDO) is a not-for profit organisation that sets global standards for health terms. It maintains and owns SNOMED CT.
SNOMED International:
- was established in 2007
- was founded by 9 countries – including Australia
- now has over 40 member countries
- has issued licences to more than 5000 individuals and organisations.
For more information visit SNOMED.org
Who is SNOMED CT and AMT relevant for?
SNOMED CT and AMT is relevant for:
- researchers and knowledge producers
- implementers of clinical information systems
- vendors of clinical information systems
- care providers
- patients and citizens
- policy makers.
SNOMED CT, SNOMED CT-AU, SNOMED International: what’s the difference?
SNOMED CT is the international core set of clinical terminology.
SNOMED CT-AU is the Australian edition of the clinical terminology. It extends the core set with local variations and customisation relevant to the Australian healthcare community, including the AMT.
SNOMED International is the not-for-profit organisation that owns and maintains SNOMED CT.
See also:
Access SNOMED CT-AU
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