Using Names and Codes.

Use of terminologies and coding systems has been diagram without the referents, as in Figure 2, which shown in various studies, from many different depicts a process of data capture facilitated by a application areas, to be inconsistent, error-prone, and string-based index or query. In the figure, concepts expensive. An analysis of various naming and coding are on the left, and symbols are on the right. In the processes suggests that this is because the processes example, a user finds the MeSH code for the concept are fairly complex, with many potential points of of , "DO01943", which actually has failure. It also sheds light on some areas for potential the broader meaning of but it is certainly undesirable context information are 4 in the context of clinical data assignment of an enumerated cbreat WWopb> 4 "DO019431' capture. type, class, or axis; position in one or more hierarchies; and Fisure 2 The Cndinp Process Many of these problems are other explicit or implicit reference to other coded beyond the scope of a terminology per se, and need to meanings, such as "not elsewhere classified" (NEC) be addressed at the level of tools and user interfaces. qualifications. References Within this model, one can characterize the processes 1. Ogden CK; Richards IA. The Meaning of of term and code usage as paths around and among Meanin*, Harcourt, Brace and World, New semiotic triangles which are interlinked: at the York, 8 Edition, 1946. concept level by mental models and at the symbol 2. Tuttle MS; Olson NE; Keck KD; et al. level by the terminology model. Or one can draw a Metaphrase: An Aid to the Conceptualization and Formalization of Patient Problems in * . . ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Healthcare Enterprises. Methocls Inf. Med. 37(4A more formal definition of code and coding system will be left Healthcare s. M for future work. 5):373-83, 1998.