In a recent LinkedIn post, Malaffi, the Abu Dhabi Health Information Exchange, highlighted the transformative role of SNOMED CT adoption, the world’s most comprehensive clinical terminology standard. This move toward unified, structured clinical documentation is more than a technical upgrade. It’s a foundational step in building a truly connected, data-driven healthcare system in the Emirate.
What is SNOMED CT?
SNOMED CT (Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine – Clinical Terms) is the world’s most comprehensive clinical terminology, designed to provide a common, standardized language for recording and sharing clinical information. By replacing fragmented, free-text documentation with structured and coded data, SNOMED CT ensures that clinical meaning remains consistent, no matter where or how the data is used.
A Unified Clinical Language for Better Care
In a connected health ecosystem like Abu Dhabi’s, multiple providers, systems, and care settings rely on the same patient information. SNOMED CT enables this by capturing diagnoses, procedures, observations, and clinical findings in a way that is accurate, unambiguous, and universally understood.
This standardisation directly supports:
- Clearer clinical documentation across facilities
- Improved care coordination between providers
- Reduced clinical ambiguity and documentation-related errors
Why SNOMED CT Adoption is a Gamechanger
The Power of a Unified Clinical Language
SNOMED CT provides a standardized way to capture clinical information. From diagnoses and procedures to symptoms and observations, it enables precise documentation by reducing ambiguity and delivering clear benefits, such as:
Enhanced interoperability that preserves clinical meaning
Patient data flows accurately between facilities, supporting Malaffi’s role as the central HIE platform.
Interoperability is not just about systems exchanging data. It’s about preserving the clinical intent behind the data. SNOMED CT allows information to move seamlessly across platforms while retaining its original meaning, forming a robust foundation for health information exchange through platforms like Malaffi. This, in turn, enables more reliable analytics, population health insights, and informed decision-making at both clinical and policy levels.
Improved Care Coordination
Clinicians get a complete, reliable view of a patient’s history, leading to better-informed decisions and fewer errors.
Stronger Data Analytics
High-quality, coded data powers population health insights, quality improvement, and evidence-based planning. Standardised data reduces gaps, inconsistencies, and risks that often arise from fragmented documentation practices.
This aligns perfectly with the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi’s vision for safe, efficient, and innovative care. With Malaffi already connecting thousands of facilities and millions of records, adding SNOMED CT elevates the entire ecosystem to global standards.
SNOMED CT Adoption From Airtabat’s Perspective
Elevating Compliance and Governance
At Airtabat, we see standardized data as the bedrock of effective compliance and security. When clinical information is structured and consistent via SNOMED CT, these are the results that follow:
Audit Readiness Becomes Simpler
Regulators and auditors can verify records more efficiently, reducing administrative burden on providers.
Secure Information Governance Becomes Stronger
High-quality data minimizes risks in sharing sensitive information, complementing frameworks like ADHICS (Abu Dhabi Healthcare Information and Cyber Security Standard).
Regulatory Alignment is Streamlined
Whether integrating with Malaffi, meeting NABIDH requirements in other emirates, or preparing for audits, standardized terminology makes processes more robust and less error-prone.
Airtabat helps facilities in Abu Dhabi achieve full compliance by bridging gaps in data quality and interoperability. Seeing SNOMED CT rolled out at scale reinforces that high-quality data isn’t just about better care – it’s about building trust in the system through transparency and accountability.
The Promise of Safer, Smarter, More Connected Care with SNOMED CT Adoption
Abu Dhabi’s commitment to standards like SNOMED CT positions the Emirate as a leader in digital health innovation, not just regionally but globally. It’s exciting to witness this progress, and we’re proud to support providers in making the most of these advancements.
Congratulations to the Malaffi team and the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi on this achievement. Initiatives like this are paving the way for safer, smarter, and more connected healthcare across the Emirate.
If you’re a healthcare provider working toward SNOMED CT adoption or broader compliance goals, feel free to reach out – we’d love to discuss how Airtabat can help.