Method and System for Concept-Based Terminology Management
A method for implementing an interface terminology is described, the interface terminology comprising concepts and descriptions, a description being an alternative way to express a concept. The interface terminology also may include a plurality of domains, wherein each concept is unique within a domain. The method may include the steps of: storing a plurality of concepts in a database; storing a plurality of descriptions in a database; linking each description to a respective concept; storing an external code set in a database, the external code set comprising a plurality of external codes; and mapping an external code to a concept. The steps may occur via database table mapping. The method also may include deploying a front-end file, the front-end file comprises a link between the descriptions and the external code set.
1 . A method for concept-based medical terminology management, comprising:
receiving from a user a search request comprising a description within a medical ontology;
identifying, using a computer, one or more concepts within the ontology that map to the description;
prompting the user to provide additional information including at least one of: a clinical modifier, a non-clinical modifier, a laterality, and a status modifier;
determining, using a computer, whether any of the identified one or more concepts also map to the provided additional information; and
identifying one or more codes in a medical code set that correspond to the determined concepts.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the medical code set is one of an administrative terminology, a reference terminology, and a clinical terminology.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifying step comprises:
identifying one or more codes of an interface terminology that correspond to the determined concepts; and
identifying one or more codes of the medical code set that correspond to the identified interface terminology codes.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a description is an alternative way to express a concept.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a description is a synonym, a vernacular term, a common term, an abbreviation, an acronym, an eponym, a misspelling, or a patient-friendly term of a concept.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of concepts are stored in a database, a plurality of descriptions are stored in a database, and a plurality of external codes from one or more code sets are stored in a database, the method further comprising, prior to any of the other steps:
linking each description to a respective concept; and
mapping each concept to at least one external code.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of concepts are stored in a database, a plurality of descriptions are stored in a database, and a plurality of external codes from one or more code sets are stored in a database, the method further comprising, prior to any of the other steps:
creating relationships between concepts.
8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
populating, using a computer, predetermined fields in a patient's electronic health record in response to the determined concepts or the identified codes.
9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
providing a summary of each identified code corresponding to the determined concepts, the summary including one or more of: the source of the code, a map type, a number corresponding to the code, and a description of the code.
10 . A method for concept-based medical terminology management, comprising:
receiving from a user a search request comprising a description within a medical ontology;
identifying, using a computer, one or more concepts within the ontology that map to the description;
prompting the user to provide additional information including at least one of: a clinical modifier, a non-clinical modifier, a laterality, and a status modifier;
determining, using a computer, whether any of the identified one or more concepts also map to the provided additional information;
presenting the identified one or more concepts to the user;
receiving a user selection of a concept from among the presented one or more concepts; and
identifying one or more codes in a medical code set that correspond to the user selected concept.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein a plurality of concepts are stored in a database, a plurality of descriptions are stored in a database, and a plurality of external codes from one or more code sets are stored in a database, the method further comprising, prior to any of the other steps:
linking each description to a respective concept; and
mapping each concept to at least one external code.
12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein a plurality of concepts are stored in a database, a plurality of descriptions are stored in a database, and a plurality of external codes from one or more code sets are stored in a database, the method further comprising, prior to any of the other steps:
creating relationships between concepts.
13 . A system for concept-based medical terminology management, comprising:
one or more computers configured to:
receive a user search request comprising a description within a medical ontology;
identify one or more concepts within the ontology that map to the description;
prompt the user to provide additional information including at least one of: a clinical modifier, a non-clinical modifier, a laterality, and a status modifier;
determine whether any of the identified one or more concepts also map to the provided additional information; and
identify one or more codes in a medical code set that correspond to the determined concepts.
14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the system is separate from and operates as an external service to an electronic medical record.
15 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the system interfaces with the electronic medical record to populate predetermined fields in the electronic medical record in response to the determined concepts or the identified codes.
16 . The system of claim 13 , further comprising:
a database having a table storing a plurality of concepts, a table storing a plurality of descriptions, and a table storing a plurality of external codes from one or more code sets;
wherein the database further stores mappings between two or more of the concepts, descriptions, and external codes.
17 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the medical code set is one of an administrative terminology, a reference terminology, and a clinical terminology.
18 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the one or more computers is configured to:
identify one or more codes of an interface terminology that correspond to the determined concepts; and
identify one or more codes of the medical code set that correspond to the identified interface terminology codes.
19 . The system of claim 13 , wherein a description is a synonym, a vernacular term, a common term, an abbreviation, an acronym, an eponym, a misspelling, or a patient-friendly term of a concept.
20 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the one or more computers is configured to:
generate a search pane that receives user searches,
present search results, and
refresh a display of medical codes in response to a user selection from among the search results.
21 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the one or more concepts belong to a plurality of domains, the system further configured to accept a user input of a domain selection.
22 . The system of claim 13 , the one or more computers configured to:
provide a summary of each identified code corresponding to the determined concepts, the summary including one or more of: the source of the code, a map type, a number corresponding to the code, and a description of the code.