SNOMED CT and openEHR

How SNOMED CT is used in openEHR archetypes and templates, and the agreement between SNOMED International and the openEHR Foundation that allows it.

The agreement

SNOMED International and the openEHR Foundation first agreed how SNOMED CT may be used in openEHR artefacts in April 2017. The partnership was renewed for five years from the end of 2024.

The statement every artefact must include

Under the agreement, every openEHR artefact that contains SNOMED CT must include this statement, wherever it’s deployed:

This artefact includes content from SNOMED Clinical Terms® (SNOMED CT®) which is copyright of the International Health Terminology Standards Development Organisation (IHTSDO). Implementers of these artefacts must have the appropriate SNOMED CT Affiliate license – for more information contact http://www.snomed.org/snomed-ct/get-snomed-ct or info@snomed.org.

How openEHR uses SNOMED CT

openEHR archetypes and templates refer to SNOMED CT; they don’t reproduce it. Anyone deploying them must hold the appropriate SNOMED CT licence.

SNOMED CT elementopenEHR artefactUsage
Concept codeArchetype, templateReference
Value set referenceArchetype, templateReference
Reference set referenceArchetype, templateReference

The 2017 letter of agreement

The substantive parts of the letter from SNOMED International (then IHTSDO) to the openEHR Foundation, dated 20 April 2017.

We understand that you have a SNOMED CT Affiliate Licence issued by UK Terminology Centre for use of the SNOMED CT International Release and UK extension to undertake development of openEHR artefacts and usage in the UK. This licence is breached as soon as products are used outside the UK without a licence and the UK TC would normally expect to be made aware of usage outside the UK, particularly in IHTSDO non-member countries.

We are aware that openEHR does not have any information about or management of those who consequently use/implement the products outside the UK at this time. SNOMED International therefore asks that you undertake the following:

  1. Add the following statement to all openEHR artefacts containing SNOMED CT, regardless of where the artefact is to be deployed: “This artefact includes content from SNOMED Clinical Terms® (SNOMED CT®) which is copyright of the International Health Terminology Standards Development Organisation (IHTSDO). Implementers of these artefacts must have the appropriate SNOMED CT Affiliate license – for more information contact http://www.snomed.org/snomed-ct/get-snomed-ct or info@snomed.org.”
  2. Provide on your website more detailed guidance about SNOMED CT, its usage in openEHR artefacts and licensing. The copyright and licence content can be further agreed with SNOMED International.

Original letter (PDF)

Related

openehr.org