Certified Healthcare Technology Specialist (CHTS) Process Workflow & Information Management Redesign Practice Exam

Which terminology is designed for global use in capturing health information?

1. LOINC

2. ICD-10

3. SNOMED CT

4. HL7

The correct answer is: SNOMED CT

The correct answer is SNOMED CT, which stands for the Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine – Clinical Terms. This terminology is developed to provide a comprehensive and standardized way to capture, share, and analyze health information across various healthcare settings globally. It supports the use of clinical terminology in electronic health records, allowing for interoperability and unified understanding of medical concepts internationally. SNOMED CT is designed to encompass a wide range of health-related concepts, including diseases, findings, procedures, and medications. This breadth and depth make it a vital resource for clinicians, researchers, and health information systems, enhancing the quality of care and enabling effective communication among healthcare providers. Other options like LOINC (Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes), ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision), and HL7 (Health Level 7) serve important functions in health information management. However, they are not as comprehensive in clinical terminology as SNOMED CT. LOINC is primarily focused on laboratory and clinical observation codes, ICD-10 is mainly used for coding diagnoses and procedural information for billing purposes, and HL7 provides standards for the exchange of health information but does not capture clinical terms to the extent that SNOMED CT does.