Introduction - Clinical Reference Groups

WELCOME

• Why is your opinion important to us?

As a clinical terminology, it is essential that SNOMED CT has input from clinicians to ensure that it remains relevant and up to date with the ever changing face of healthcare. Your opinion as clinicians is therefore essential to us to highlight the necessary changes and updates required, and advise us on content and products e.g.subsets which can be provided to support the implementation of SNOMED CT.

• The evolution of clinical engagement 

SNOMED CT has always had input from clinical groups throughout its history. Historically, this has been provided through special interest groups (SIG's), groups dedicated to specific clinical areas. The groups have been successful, but have been limited in their number of specialties covered; Dentistry, Nursing, Pathology and Laboratory medicine, Anaesthesia, Family/General Practice, Pharmacy. In addition to the clinical SIG's, there were two functional SIG's covering Mapping and Implementation.

Clinical Engagement has always been central to the development of SNOMED CT. In 2016, SNOMED International formally recognised the importance of clinical input, through the creation of a dedicated clinical engagement team and the agreement of clinical engagement strategy. The aim of the strategy is to provide a scalable approach to engaging with clinicians, and to ensure SNOMED CT has the input required to ensure it remains up to date and relevant to clinical practice. To provide a scaleable approach for gaining clinical input from all clinical specialties, SNOMED International has put in place Clinical Reference Groups.

ABOUT

• What are Clinical Reference Groups (CRG)?

CRGs provide a framework to facilitate discussion between clinicians focused on specific clinical specialties or topic areas, and dialogue between clinicians and SNOMED International. CRG's have dedicated Confluence sites, which support discussions and provide information relevant to the specialty area. The aim is for clinicians to discuss with colleagues, questions, issues and experience relating to SNOMED CT and its implementation. The CRG's are open and transparent, and available to view by anyone. However, to participate in discussions, you must have a Confluence account and be logged in. The groups are open to all, and we would support input not limited to just the clinicians from the clinical specialty area, e.g. interested vendors and information specialists

Linked to the CRG's are project groups focused on delivering agreed work items and editorial groups (providing clinical validation for derivative products)

WAYS OF WORKING

Ways of working for the Clinical Reference Groups are specified <HERE>

• The model for clinical engagement

• What is the expectation for collaboration? 

Whilst CRG's provide the framework, the expectation for the groups is that will provide the following:

• • • A framework for multi-disciplinary topic discussion and working across professions
    • Access to expertise from all clinical domains
    • A mechanism for different levels of engagement
    • Access to discussions on clinical developments by other groups (e.g.implementers), to ensure that products are developed that can be implemented within systems. 
    • Early identification of global changes to healthcare delivery

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

• Why Participate? 

• As a clinical terminology, it is essential that SNOMED CT contains clinical content that is relevant and up to date. To assist SNOMED International, we rely on input from clinicians and clinical groups internationally. From a participant perspective, engaging through the CRG's provides a mechanism to ensure that the content required by clinicians is included in SNOMED CT quickly and accurately. The CRG's provide a mechanism to share experience and avoid duplication of effort, as clinicians begin to use SNOMED CT in their day to day practice within the EHR.

• Who can participate?

• Participation in CRG's are targeted towards clinicians with an interest in the specialty area/topic. However, the groups are open to all, and we would encourage implementers specifically to engage through these forum
  
  

• How to create a group

  • If you are have a requirement to create a group, email info@snomed.org. The Clinical Engagement team will liaise with clinicians/clinical groups wishing to create a group to clarify criteria/requirements for CRG
  • Once the criteria/requirements for CRG are confirmed, they will be reviewed and agreed by the Clinical Engagement team
  • If agreed, a CRG Confluence site will be created, and a lead and core membership identified
  • We will reach out to global clinical organisations relevant to the topic, to provide input and members
  • Notification of the new CRG will then be published to clinicians, clinical groups and other potential stakeholders
    
    

• Instructions on how to get involved

• To participate in the CRG's you will require to be logged in to Confluence. This will allow you to take an active part in the discussions across all groups. However, initially we ask that you specify which group is of primary interest, to allow us to add you to the specific group membership. If you are not logged into Confluence, you will have a Read only view of the pages. 

• If you already have a Confluence account, please email info@snomed.org, marking your query "CRG Membership". In the text, please state which group you wish to join.
  
  
• If you do not have a Confluence account, you can obtain one by applying for an account here - Confluence User Accounts.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• For more information, please have a look at the documents available and also the FAQ's

• Contact info@snomed.org