![Sample our Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing & Allied Health journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5944/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Medicine-Dentistry-Nursing-Allied-Health.jpg"})
ABSTRACT
Objectives: The burden of asthma ranks among the highest for chronic diseases. Interoperable electronic health records (EHRs) can improve the management of chronic diseases such as asthma by facilitating sharing of data between health care settings along the continuum of care. Terminology such as SNOMED CT® (Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine-Clinical Terms) and LOINC® (Logistical Observation Identifier Names and Codes) are prerequisites for interoperability of EHRs. We sought to determine the extent to which data elements in a validated asthma care map (ACM) are congruent with these terminologies. Methods: A certified asthma educator entered all 169 elements in the ACM into the SNOMED CT® browser. Matched elements were assigned a concept name, an identification number, and classified into a hierarchy. LOINC® terminology was reviewed for asthma-related pulmonary function tests (PFTs). Results: Forty-two percent of the ACM elements were complete matches to existing SNOMED CT® concepts, 24% partial matches, and 34% unmatched. Specific asthma control parameters were either complete (n = 3) or partial (n = 4) matches, but overall “asthma control” was unmatched. There were 92% complete or partial matches for PFT elements to SNOMED CT® and 83% to LOINC®. Conclusions: The majority of ACM elements are congruent with standardized terminology, enabling EHR interoperability. Future requests for new concepts in SNOMED CT® and LOINC® should be pursued for asthma control parameters paramount to evidence-based practice.
Legend of abbreviations
| ACM | = | asthma care map |
| HER | = | electronic health record |
| EMR | = | electronic medical record |
| FEV1 | = | forced expiratory volume in one second |
| OLA | = | Ontario lung association |
| PCAP | = | primary care asthma program |
| LOINC | = | logistical observation identifier names and codes |
| PEF | = | peak expiratory flow |
| PRESTINE | = | pan-Canadian respiratory standards initiative for electronic health records |
| PFT | = | pulmonary function test |
| SNOMED | = | systematized nomenclature of medicine |
Acknowledgements
This study was sponsored by the Ontario Lung Association, and funded by the Government of Ontario. The views expressed in the material are the views of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the OLA or the province.
Conflicts of interest
Dr. Lougheed has declared in the past 3 years, she has received grants outside the submitted work paid directly to Queen's University from the Ontario Lung Association, the Ontario Thoracic Society, the Government of Ontario's Innovation Fund, AllerGen NCE, Queen's University, MPEX, GlaxoSmithKline, Hoffman LaRoche, and Janssen. Janice Minard reported that as the project manager for this study, her position was funded by the Government of Ontario. There are no other potential conflicts of interest to report.