The abbreviation SNOMED CT refers to Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine Clinical Terms (SNOMED CT), often shortened to simply 'SNOMED' or 'SNOMED code'. It is a structured clinical vocabulary for use in electronic health records. It is the most comprehensive and precise clinical health terminology product in the world, forming an integral part of our electronic care records. It represents care information in a clear, consistent, and comprehensive manner.

SNOMED codes are used for recording patient clinical information across the NHS helping ensure data is recorded consistently and accurately. This simplifies exchanging clinical information between systems. For example, clinical information in a discharge summary can be incorporated directly into your GP patient health record, without a care professional having to re-enter the data by hand, not only saving time, but also avoiding the chance of human error.

The use of computerised clinical decision support within systems is also increasing, supporting care professionals and patients by allowing their IT systems to react to clinical information. For example, some systems have rules that alert care providers to the early signs of sepsis or, in a hospital setting, a specialist team might be automatically alerted that a patient with Parkinson’s disease has been admitted. These functions enable better patient care by ensuring the right information is given to the right people at the right time.