NLM VSAC Launches Intensional Definition Functionality

Posted by Alan Carr on December 21st, 2018 Posted in: Communications Tools, Data, Electronic Health Records, NLM Resources

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The National Library of Medicine Value Set Authority Center (VSAC), with support from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), has announced the launch of the Intensional value set definition functionality in the VSAC Authoring Tool. Through the VSAC Authoring user interface, value set authors can algorithmically define value sets with logical rule-based Boolean clauses and hierarchy operators, leveraging the structure and hierarchies of terminologies. Logically-defined value sets, combined with the value set author’s guidance, can incorporate future changes as terminologies evolve to add or remove concepts, increasing efficiency and accuracy of value set creation and maintenance.

An example of a rule-based value set could be: include all codes that are descendantsOf the SNOMED CT® code for ‘Clinical finding,’ exclude all codes that are descendantOrSelfOf ‘Wound finding.’ This first deployment of the VSAC Intensional Functionality provides support for hierarchy functions for several terminologies. Later in 2019, VSAC will add intensional functionality for more terminologies, including RxNorm and LOINC®. Learn more about how to Create an Intensional Value Set in the VSAC Support Center.