2010 Update

On March 31^st 2011 the National Board of Health and Welfare reported the result of the commission to develop "an interdisciplinary terminology" to the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs. This national standard terminology, based on SNOMED CT, nationally agreed and defined concepts and terms as well as classifications in health and social care is part of the national e-health strategy and the target area of the national information structure. The reports include progress over the last four years, plans and needs for the future, methods and guidelines that have been developed, as well as a governance plan for maintenance and distribution. Importantly, the reports also include several proposals for further work to have successful implementation. The reports will be made available in English. 

The initial translation of 280 000 concepts into Swedish was finalised in June 2010. The first full national release is planned for October 2011. A series of workshops will be arranged in 2011 to solicit input from stakeholders in order to meet the requirements and requests of future users. An in-depth survey was performed in 2010 in five regions to identify organisational structures and administrative aspects for work in the areas of terminologies, classifications and informatics in health and social care. The scope of the survey was to gain a better understanding of the current investments, prioritisations and prerequisites in regions and municipalities with regard to local resources in these areas of work. 

Since the last annual report a number of new pilots have commenced as well as new collaborations with external parties in various contexts. A partnership has been established with one of the regional health authorities to test educational models and to develop guidance for working with SNOMED CT on the local level. Another initiative aims at introducing terminology for data collection and follow-up of National guidelines, starting with national public health guidelines. Several ongoing activities will contribute to the validation of the Swedish translation of SNOMED CT as well as identify current use of concepts in various settings. A newly developed model for structured documentation and reuse of information on nosocomial infections uses SNOMED CT as the main terminology and is being piloted nationally in 2011. All pilots in collaboration with the National Board of Health and Welfare are using the standard methods that have been developed in the project. 

The NRC participates in several projects in the national e-health strategy, especially to develop knowledge and artefacts to support implementation, e.g. binding terminologies to information models, a national information structure, the national patient summary project, and other ongoing work within the European Union and internationally, including Member activities in IHTSDO.

There are at present 95 active affiliate licenses in Sweden. Information for affiliates are posted on the website and there is a special area set up for affiliates www.socialstyrelsen.se/facksprak A forum to facilitate information sharing on implementation issues is to be established during 2011 . 

Swedish representatives as of April 2011:

General Assembly - Daniel Forslund

Management Board - Kristina Bränd Persson

Member Forum - Lotti Barlow and Anna Adelöf