TS ENV 13606-2

TS ENV 13606-2 is a terminology standard for the domain terms used in electronic healthcare record communication, and it supports interoperability in health informatics. It provides a common conceptual frame so that EHCR data created by different teams on the same system, or on different systems altogether, can be understood in a more consistent way.

The role of terms in EHCR communication

Electronic healthcare records may carry clinical information in structured or semi-structured form, so the name, context and intended use of each data item need to be clear. A domain term list does more than label information: it helps define the conceptual distinctions that make record content interpretable across systems. In health informatics, that shared language is essential for data exchange, integration and the long-term management of patient information.

General technical context for this part

• Supports a common terminology base so EHCR data from different systems can be treated with the same meaning.
• Helps maintain consistent interpretation of records created by different teams within the same system.
• Makes the distinction between concept, data item and usage context more explicit in electronic health records.
• Strengthens linguistic and conceptual alignment for information exchange and interoperability in health informatics.

This document should be understood as the terminology/list component within the TS ENV 13606 family’s approach to healthcare record communication. Based on the 2000 ENV 13606-2 reference, this edition reflects the conceptual and definitional foundation of the standard and supplies the domain concepts needed to understand EHCR communication, without by itself defining the full electronic healthcare record architecture.