On 21/03/2011 11:40, Diego Bosc? wrote:
> But then if we want to communicate this coded string outside from our
> openEHR system would be impossible to know 100% what it is.

well don't forget that the terminology_id attribute is telling you what 
terminology it is, so it should always be the case that the code_string 
is interpretable given the terminology. Now, if we start having multiple 
syntaxes or ways of expressing a post-coordination for a given 
terminology, something else is going to be needed.

> I don't
> get the point of having 'mappings' (which could also be done by a
> terminology service) and not having a 'qualifiers' or whatever.

A mapping can be applied to a coded or uncoded data item, e.g. an ICD10 
billing code attached to a much more specific SNOMED code, or just to a 
piece of text. Don't forget, 'coding' is still largely done as a post 
hoc exercise in hospitals by special people who do only that, and who 
are essentially responsible for choosing the 'right' codes so that the 
hospital gets properly remunerated for the procedure done. So this is 
openEHR's way of representing that. This kind of mapping can't be done 
by a terminology service, because it is not a definitive mapping in the 
sense that you would find inside the terminology service - the latter 
kind of mapping might map the SCT concept 'fracture of femur' to an ICD 
code meaning the same thing, or as close as possible. But the 'mapping' 
attribute in openEHR allows the coders within a hospital (or the 
original consultant) to put a code like 'long bone fracture' chosen from 
ICD, which has been determined as the correct billing code.

> Doesn't Loinc also allow post-coordination?

well LOINC is a kind of post-coordination system, with 6 axes. A LOINC 
code and a LOINC 'post-coordination' are more or less the same thing 
(you can have wildcards etc in LOINC).

hope this clarifies

- thomas*
*
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