Toward vocabulary domain specifications for Health Level 7-coded data elements

The "vocabulary problem" has long plagued the developers, implementers, and users of computer-based systems. The authors review selected activities of the Health Level 7 (HL7) Vocabulary Technical Committee that are related t o vocabulary domain specification for HL7 coded data elements. These activi ties include: 1) the development of two sets of principles to provide guida nce to terminology stakeholders, including organizations seeking to deploy HL7-compliant systems, terminology developers, and terminology integrators; 2) the completion of a survey of terminology developers; 3) the developmen t of a process for HL7 registration of terminologies; and 4) the maintenanc e of vocabulary domain specification tables. As background, vocabulary doma in specification is defined and the relationship between the HL7 Reference Information Model and vocabulary domain specification is described. The act ivities of the Vocabulary Technical Committee complement the efforts of ter minology developers and other stakeholders. These activities are aimed at r ealizing semantic interoperability in the context of the HL7 Message Develo pment Framework, so that information exchange and use among disparate syste ms can occur for the delivery and management of direct clinical care as wel l as for purposes such as clinical research, outcome research, and populati on health management.