Terminology Mapping
The process of translating clinical codes between different coding systems or between local codes and standard terminologies.
Terminology mapping is one of the most labor-intensive parts of healthcare integration. Common mappings include local lab codes to LOINC, local diagnosis codes to ICD-10, and SNOMED CT to ICD-10. Mappings can be one-to-one, one-to-many, or require clinical judgment. Automated mapping tools (using NLP or reference tables) help, but clinical review is usually required. Maintaining maps as code sets evolve is an ongoing operational burden.
FAQ
- Can terminology mapping be automated?
- Partially. Automated tools can suggest matches based on text similarity and reference crosswalks, but clinical review is needed for accuracy. Roughly 60-80% of common lab codes map straightforwardly; the rest require manual curation.