When SNOMED CT is implemented in electronic health records, there may be situations where explicitly stating associations between components can support effective and efficient use of SNOMED CT.
In some situations, a set of unordered associations between components may be required. In other situations, an ordered list of directed associations between components may be needed. As illustrated in the table below, unordered associations can be represented using an association reference set, while an ordered list of directed associations can be represented using an ordered reference set. Associations can be specified between components of any type. However, associations are typically used to link concepts and/or descriptions.
Table 3.1.3-1: Requirements for a set of associations between components
| Requirement | Description | Example Uses | Reference Set |
|---|---|---|---|
| A set of directed associations between components | A set of directed associations between pairs of concepts A set of directed associations between pairs of descriptions |
| 5.4 Association Reference Set |
| An ordered list of directed associations between components | An ordered list of directed associations between pairs of concepts or descriptions | Defining alternative hierarchies for navigation and selection of concepts or descriptions.
Examples include:
| Ordered Reference Set |
For more detailed use case examples, please refer to the following sections:
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