Finnish Base Profiles
1.0.0 - trial-use
Finnish Base Profiles
1.0.0 - trial-use
This page is part of the Finnish Base Profiles (v1.0.0: STU 1) based on FHIR R4. This is the current published version in its permanent home (it will always be available at this URL). For a full list of available versions, see the Directory of published versions
This page lists notable terminologies used in Finland.
Many of these terminologies are not maintained by HL7 Finland, rather they are published and maintained elsewhere and included into this implementation guide to raise awareness of their existence.
In addition to the terminologies defined in this implementation guide, there are other, more use case specific implementation guides that may define terminologies for their use cases. See, for instance:
Most code systems used in this guide are defined in the base FHIR specification. They are not replicated here, but some essential concepts are presented below.
See the FHIR terminology section for a complete discussion on code systems and a list of codes system names used in FHIR.
See the value sets defined in the FHIR specification.
See the mappings between value sets defined in the main FHIR specification.
See the known identifier systems of the main FHIR specification.
There are several terminologies and terminology servers that don’t yet offer their contents in FHIR format. However, many of these terminologies are essential in Finnish healthcare and social care.
The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare maintains a National code server of social welfare and health care, only in Finnish language. The standardised data structures required by the electronic client data systems in social welfare and health care as well as the central code sets of the statistical and register data collection are all published on the code server.
The code sets are available on the Code server free of charge.
The responsibility for the contents of the code sets on the code server belongs to THL as laid down by law, Act on the Electronic Processing of Client Data in Social and Health Care, 9 Feb, 159/2007 (in Finnish). The technical maintenance of the code server is the responsibility of the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela).
The Code Service forms a part of Kanta, the national patient data system. The Code Service maintains nationally integrated data structures and code sets for electronic patient case histories. The Code server also develops registration practices for the client data in social welfare.
Finland became a member of SNOMED International in November 2019.
To make best use of SNOMED CT with available resources, Finland has chosen not to translate the whole terminology. Instead, the aim is to focus on two national reference sets that meet local needs in areas where there is international experience and models showing implementation success.
The first target is an obvious one: standardizing the terminology and codes for anatomic pathology in the clinical laboratories. Finnish pathology laboratories have used SNOMED 2 since 1980’s. But lack of coordination eventually resulted in several dialects and variance between hospitals. Now the ongoing project aims at national reference set to help the biobanks, regional and national quality registers and structured reporting on individual patient basis.
The other chosen application for SNOMED CT is patient problem list. Finland decided to use CORE Problem List as foundation for the local effort. CORE Problem List originated from a respectable group of medical institutions in the U.S. and is maintained by the National Medical Library thus making the acceptance of the reference set by clinicians so much easier. The ongoing project translates terminology into Finnish and when finished will cover terms for both professionals and patients.
Read more (in Finnish).
For international interoperability, FHIR implementations SHOULD use SNOMED CT codes when they are available, even if a translation is not available in Finnish or Swedish.
FinLOINC - The Physiological Measurements classification contains results and findings of clinical measurements that describe the patient’s condition. FinLOINC is based on the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC®) nomenclature maintained by Regenstrief Institute, covering only a small part of it.
The classification is used to describe the physiological measurements in the core information of medical records.
Most systems and services in Finland use the laboratory test codes and names specified in the laboratory test name set by Kuntaliitto.
Upcoming European legislation, like that for the European Health Data Space introduces some pressure to adopt LOINC codes too. Therefore, and for international interoperability in general, systems SHOULD include LOINC codes in adddition to the national Kuntaliitto codes, where a LOINC code is known.
Finland uses the ATC classification for codifying medicines. See the Finnish localized version. The classification divides drugs into groups according to which organ or organ system they affect and by their chemical, pharmacological and therapeutic properties
Finland uses the Nordic Article Number (VNR) system for identification codes of specific articles of medicine with marketing authorisation in the Nordic countries.
IG © 2022+ HL7 Finland. Package hl7.fhir.fi.base#1.0.0 based on FHIR 4.0.1. Generated 2023-11-10
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