Health informatics — Principles of mapping between terminological systems

Mapping in healthcare is a way to integrate different terminological resources used for different purposes. It can help bridge different terminologies when required for interoperability. For example, data collected for communicating information about direct patient care (using clinical terminologies) can be reused for statistical and administrative reporting of morbidity data (using clinical classifications) by transforming the terminological representations into classification representations.

This document establishes and harmonises the basic principles for developing, maintaining, and using maps in healthcare. It provides guidelines for good practice to underpin the mapping process and explains the risks involved in the mapping process. It also identifies variations in process, precision, and administration when mapping for different purposes and in different environments.

This document is for organisations charged with creating or applying maps to meet their business needs.

Main sections:

· Scope

· Terminological resources

· Summary of key issues for decision makers

· Principles of mapping

· Characteristics of a quality map and mapping process

· Map development and maintenance team