How to search all available SNOMED concepts

SNOMED CT-AU (the Australian version of SNOMED) contains more than 50,000 procedure terms, not all of which are relevant in the surgical setting.

RACS collaborated with the CSIRO Australian eHealth Research Centre to develop a surgical subset for use within MALT. This reference set currently contains more than 17,000 procedures and covers terms from all specialties.

RACS continues to work with the CSIRO and the Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA) to expand on the reference set according to surgeon feedback.

If you can't find what you're looking for in MALT, follow the instructions below and locate the term in the SNOMED reference set using Shrimp. Once you find the term that you would like to see in MALT, email the team, including the code and preferred term.

Shrimp can be accessed at https://ontoserver.csiro.au/shrimp. Review and accept the license conditions to continue to the website.

Shrimp does not work well in Internet Explorer; you will need to use another browser such as Google Chrome.

In the top right-hand corner of the screen (when in full screen mode or bottom left if screen is minimised) there are three tabs (CodeSystems, ValuesSets and ECL). Select CodeSystems; you do not need to use the ValueSets or ECL tabs.

There are four filter boxes:

• The first box defaults to ‘SNOMED CT’, which should be left as is
• The second box shows the SNOMED release. Any version can be used but it is recommended to search in the latest version. To do this select AU - Latest
• The third box needs to be changed from “All SNOMED CT Terms” to “Procedure foundation reference set”
• Start typing into the fourth “search terms” box to begin searching. 

• The concepts may be described differently to how they are referred to in Australia as it is an internationally recognised clinical terminology
• Avoid use of specific brands and trade names if possible e.g. Botox
• To widen search criteria, use a broader term, not a specific procedure e.g. fixation instead of internal fixation
• If the approach is not specified, it is assumed that it is open.

Each concept is defined with a code, preferred term, fully specified name and synonyms, all of which are used to provide the search results.

The MALT reference set utilises the preferred term and the synonyms are also utilised in the MALT user interface search. 

The MALT team continue to collaborate with the CSIRO to update and refine the Australian and International releases. If you identify terms that are not available in MALT and there is a suitable term in the Shrimp browser, please email the MALT team.

When requesting for terms to be added to MALT, please include the SNOMED code and the preferred term and the MALT Team will action this or contact you if more information is required.

If a suitable term is not available in the Shrimp browser, please either:

1. Contact the MALT team, and we can double check that there is not a term available. If a legitimate gap is identified the MALT team will liaise with CSIRO; or  
2. Contact the CSIRO directly by clicking the “Can’t Find the Concept” button within the Shrimp browser. Please also notify the MALT team so that if the term is created it can be made available in MALT.

For assistance using the system contact the Morbidity Audits Support Team on +61 8 8219 0939 or at [email protected].

For assistance with RACS website credentials (username and password) contact the IT helpdesk on +61 3 9276 7422 or at [email protected].