title: The SNOMED RT Procedure Model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  SNOMED RT represents a fundamental change from prior versions of SNOMED. The logic-based structure of SNOMED RT enables concepts to be defined more explicitly, providing an opportunity to address inconsistencies and ambiguities present in prior SNOMED concept definitions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Create a unifying organizational strategy for all SNOMED RT procedures, and remove ambiguities in procedure concept definitions.
  
  
  METHODS
  A comprehensive model of procedures was developed, based on a set of guiding principles and a review of known existing models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All SNOMED RT procedures are categorized by a common set of "root procedures" (high level atomic actions), and are more explicitly defined by a shared set of defining relationships.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While the objectives have largely been met, open issues continue to be addressed. The similarity between procedure models of SNOMED RT and the U.K. s Clinical Terms Version 3 is proving to greatly facilitate the full integration of the two terminologies into a merged vocabulary to be known as SNOMED Clinical Terms (SNOMED CT), slated to be released in the near future.
authors.affiliation: Kaiser Permanente, USA. Robert.H.Dolin@kp.org
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Dolin
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Spackman
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abilla
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Correia
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Goldberg
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Konicek
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lukoff
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Lundberg
mesh_terms: D015510:Clinical Medicine / Q000145:classification; D008128:Logic; D018511:Systems Integration; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D018875:Vocabulary, Controlled