SNOMED CT it is not just a coding system of
diagnosis.
It also covers other types of
clinical findings like signs and symptoms. It includes tens of thousands of surgical, therapeutic and
diagnostic procedures. It includes
observables (for example heart rate), and also includes concepts representing
body structures,
organisms,
substances,
pharmaceutical products,
physical objects,
physical forces,
specimens and many other types of information that may need to be recorded in or around the health record.
The breakdown of concepts by hierarchy (June 2019)
The comprehensive scope of SNOMED CT reduces the need to support multiple incompatible or overlapping code systems in the same health record system. This means SNOMED CT can become the common terminology for consistent communication, retrieval and processing across clinical specialties and between health care facilities at local, national and international levels.