Data classification systems play a vital role in aiding the healthcare sector by providing a structured and consistent framework for organizing and analyzing healthcare data. Data models establish a common language and structure for representing healthcare information, enabling interoperability and seamless data exchange between different healthcare systems and stakeholders. Data schemas define the relationships and attributes of data elements, ensuring data integrity and facilitating accurate data capture, storage, and retrieval. Standard data classification systems, such as International Classification of Diseases (ICD) and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT), offer standardized codes and terminology for classifying medical diagnoses, procedures, and treatments, facilitating accurate and efficient data analysis, billing, research, and clinical decision-making. These standardized approaches to data management promote data quality, comparability, and integration, ultimately leading to improved healthcare outcomes, streamlined operations, and enhanced patient care.
Health Level 7
Acronym: HL7
Organisation responsible: HL7 International
Official web page: https://www.hl7.org/
Description: HL7 is a set of standards for the exchange, integration, sharing, and retrieval of electronic health information. It is commonly used in the healthcare industry to facilitate interoperability between different health information systems.
Current Version: Various versions
Schema location: https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc4180
Standard: Various for the different standards
Type of data: Various
Primary purpose : Structured data exchange
API available: Not applicable
License details: Not applicable
Data model (Power BI): Not applicable
Clinical Document Architecture
Acronym: CDA
Organisation responsible: HL7 International
Official web page: https://www.hl7.org/
Description: CDA is an HL7 standard that provides a framework for the exchange of clinical documents, such as discharge summaries, progress notes, and diagnostic reports. It defines the structure and semantics of clinical documents to ensure interoperability.
Current Version: 2.0 2005
Schema location: http://www.hl7.org/implement/standards/product_brief.cfm?product_id=7
Standard: Not applicable
Type of data: Documents
Primary purpose : Structured document exchange
API available: Not available
License details: Open source
Data model (Power BI): Available on request
Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources
Acronym: FHIR
Organisation responsible: HL7 International
Official web page: https://fhir.org/
Description: FHIR is a modern and rapidly evolving HL7 standard for exchanging healthcare data. It uses a RESTful API approach and standardizes the representation, exchange, and integration of healthcare information across systems.
Current Version: 5.0.0
Schema location: https://www.hl7.org/fhir/index.html
Standard: Not applicable
Type of data: XML and JSON
Primary purpose : Structured data exchange
API available: Yes
License details: Creative commons license
Data model (Power BI): Available on request
Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine
Acronym: DICOM
Organisation responsible: National Electrical Manufacturers Association
Official web page: https://www.dicomstandard.org/
Description: DICOM is a standard for the transmission, storage, and sharing of medical images and related information. It provides a comprehensive set of protocols and formats for interoperability among various imaging devices and picture archiving and communication systems (PACS).
Current Version: No version number
Schema location: https://dicom.nema.org/dicom/2013/output/chtml/part19/chapter_A.html
Standard: https://www.iso.org/standard/72941.html and Incorporates https://digital.nhs.uk/services/terminology-and-classifications/snomed-ct
Type of data: XML and JSON
Primary purpose : Structured data exchange
API available: Not available
License details: DICOM® has a Patent Disclosure Policy
Data model (Power BI): Not available
Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine - Clinical Terms
Acronym: SNOMED CT
Organisation responsible: SNOMED International
Official web page: https://www.snomed.org/
Description: SNOMED CT is a comprehensive clinical terminology system that provides a standardized set of medical concepts and terms. It enables precise clinical documentation, coding, and data exchange across different healthcare organizations.
Current Version: No version number
Schema location: https://confluence.ihtsdotools.org/display/DOC/SNOMED+CT+Document+Library
Standard: Not available
Type of data: Reference data
Primary purpose : Structured data storage
API available: Not available
License details: SNOMED International does not charge for use of SNOMED CT in SNOMED International Member countries or territories
Data model (Power BI): Not available
International Classification of Diseases
Acronym: ICD
Organisation responsible: World Health Organisation
Official web page: https://www.who.int/
Description: ICD is a classification system for coding and categorizing diseases, disorders, injuries, and other health conditions. It provides a common language for healthcare professionals to communicate and analyze health information.
Current Version: ICD-11
Schema location: https://www.who.int/standards/classifications/classification-of-diseases
Standard: Not available
Type of data: Hierarchical data classification
Primary purpose : Structured data storage
API available: Not available
License details: License agreement here
Data model (Power BI): Not available
Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes
Acronym: LOINC
Organisation responsible: Regenstrief Institute
Official web page: https://loinc.org/
Description: LOINC is a standardized coding system for identifying laboratory and clinical observations. It allows for the exchange and sharing of clinical results and observations across different systems.
Current Version: 2.74
Schema location: https://loinc.org/downloads/
Standard: Not available
Type of data: Hierarchical data classification
Primary purpose : Structured data storage
API available: Available here
License details: License agreement here
Data model (Power BI):
Current Procedural Terminology
Acronym: CPT
Organisation responsible: American medical association
Official web page: https://www.ama-assn.org/
Description: CPT is a standardized medical code set maintained by the American Medical Association (AMA). It is used for reporting medical procedures and services provided by healthcare providers.
Current Version: CPT 2021 October 2021
Schema location: https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/cpt/cpt-overview-and-code-approval
Standard: Not available
Type of data: Reference data
Primary purpose : Structured data storage
API available: Not available
License details: License agreement here
Data model (Power BI): Not available
Unified Medical Language System
Acronym: UMLS
Organisation responsible: National library of medicine
Official web page: https://www.nlm.nih.gov/
Description: UMLS is a comprehensive set of biomedical vocabularies, classifications, and ontologies that integrates and links various standard terminologies used in healthcare, such as SNOMED CT, LOINC, and ICD.
Current Version: 2023AA
Schema location: https://www.nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/index.html
Standard: Not available
Type of data: Reference data and hierarchical data classification
Primary purpose : Structured data storage
API available: Not available
License details: License details here
Data model (Power BI): Not available
Continuity of Care Document
Acronym: CCD
Organisation responsible: National library of medicine
Official web page: http://www.hl7.org/implement/standards/product_brief.cfm?product_id=6
Description: CCD is an XML-based standard for the exchange of patient summary information. It provides a structured format for capturing and sharing patient data across different healthcare settings and systems.
Current Version: 1.0
Schema location: Available here
Standard: Not available
Type of data: XML
Primary purpose : Structured data storage
API available: Not available
License details: Not applicable. Extension of XML
Data model (Power BI): Available on request