My thoughts:
- The picture is not wrong
- It needs more detail:
- Codes from codings systems are used in structures
- Ontologies are the ‘best’ coding systems, derived classifications are ‘good’ as well
- In structures codes are used in two ways: to give meaning to nodes in the structure, as
And to give meaning to the data fields in the structure.
-Since both codes and structures can give (i) meaning to concepts problems can occir (the Boundary Problem)
Additional rules how to use the structure and codes used are needed: Rule 1: Only basic (primitive) codes from a coding systems are allowed.
e.g. Code allowed for: ‘Mamma tumor’ but not a code for 'Mamma tumor not found’
Perhaps more rules are needed.
In CIMI/HL7 there was/is and agreement to use LOINC codes to express the question and SNOMED to be used to provide the answer.
Gerard Freriks
+31 620 34 70 88
+31 182 22 59 46
gfrer@luna.nl
Kattensingel 20
2801 CA Gouda
the Netherlands
