Terminology use in electronic health records: basic principles.

Electronic health records (EHRs) are a cost-saving and environmentally friendly means for documenting patient care and improving patient safety, quality, and evidence-based practice. Standardized clinical classification systems and terminologies are essential ingredients of the EHR. Their selection must be driven by a clear understanding of requirements for their use and application.

Structured terminologies in clinical information systems: implementation through collaboration.

The structure and content of the dialog with a clinical end-user is a critical aspect of clinical information system use, data capture and retrieval, and efficient and effective health care. This dialog is driven ultimately by embedded structures and processes that: a) provide functional models of clinical expression in support of professional practice, and b) determine how structured terminologies ought to populate these models. Based on diverse practical experience, this study identifies challenges to implementing structured clinical terminologies, categorizing them by both stakeholder group and application area.