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SNOMED CT global clinical terminology is introduced in Germany through the Medical Informatics Initiative

London, United Kingdom, 24 March 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE). The Medical Informatics Initiative (MII) formally announced a relationship with SNOMED International Wednesday March 18, 2020.

As of last week, the Federal Ministry of Research has given MII participants nationwide a license to use SNOMED CT. Owned and maintained by SNOMED International, SNOMED CT is the world’s largest clinical terminology, representing a collection of more than 350,000+ clinical concepts and built upon ontological principles and of particular use when applied in research and planning capacities. SNOMED CT’s primary purpose is to support all healthcare professionals in their recording and sharing of detailed patient information within Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and across healthcare communities globally. Its ontological foundations allow SNOMED CT data to support detailed data analytics to meet a variety of use cases from local requirements to population-based analytics.

Majority of Germans ready to donate data for medical research

Long-term consent preferred

27 August 2019. 79 percent of the German population (more than three quarters) would be willing to donate their personal health data anonymously and free of charge for medical research. This is the result of a current representative Forsa survey commissioned by the TMF.

Draft proposal for the German Digital Healthcare Act (Digitale Versorgung-Gesetz)

TMF issues a statement calling for involvement of research in the design of electronic patient records and for changes to the Data Transparency Ordinance (DaTrav) and innovation funding

7 June 2019. On 15 May, the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG) submitted the long-awaited draft of a more comprehensive digital transformation act for healthcare under the title “Act for Better Healthcare through Digital Transformation and Innovation (DVG).” In a statement published [in german] today, TMF, as the umbrella organisation for networked medical research in Germany, welcomed the draft legislation, and in particular the proposed further development of an electronic patient record (EPR, known in German by its abbreviation ePA).

Blueprints now available: genomic medicine in Germany needs to make up lost ground

European genomics researchers discuss ways to quickly establish genomic medicine in Germany

28 May 2019. Genomic medicine is developing at a rapid pace – with great potential for managing cancer treatments and diagnosing rare diseases. On 27 May 2019, over 100 German and international genomics researchers met in Berlin for the TMF workshop Genomic Medicine in Europe – Blueprints for Germany to discuss opportunities for launching the discipline in the country. As Professor Michael Krawczak, Chairman of the Board of Directors of TMF (Technologies, Methods and Infrastructure for Networked Medical Research), urged: “We need a national strategy for introducing genomic medicine in Germany. The type and scope of genomic diagnostics here is no longer adequate, considering international progress.”

15.5 million euros for model healthcare research registers

150 register experts discussed quality criteria and future challenges at the Register Days 2019 conference in Berlin

7 May 2019. On 6 and 7 May 2019, around 150 experts for medical registers gathered in Berlin, Germany’s capital, for Register Days 2019, an event dedicated to this specialist topic. They exchanged insights regarding quality criteria and future challenges associated with patient-centric registers. “The mark of an excellent register is a large volume of quality-assured data records for a clearly defined question,” explained Sebastian C. Semler, Executive Director of TMF (Technologies, Methods and Infrastructure for Networked Medical Research). Register Days 2019 was organised by TMF in cooperation with the German Network for Health Services Research (DNVF).

Placed on a long-term footing: Authors’ portal for clinical guideline development in new hands

TMF transfers portal ownership to user group – support already provided for more than 100 clinical guidelines

15 April 2019. Medical guidelines are vital decision-making tools for evidence-based patient care. They advise doctors on recommended treatments based on the most recent scientific findings and proven best practices. The portal supports the development and consensus-building process, entailing the effective collaboration of a large number of experts over a prolonged period. The portal partners work closely with the Association of the Scientific Medical Societies in Germany (AWMF) to develop guidelines in line with recognised standards.

DMEA 2019: From industry-specific meeting to a source of fresh healthcare ideas and impetus

TMF an active participant at the new digital healthcare platform

15 April 2019. DMEA, Europe’s largest digital health event, successfully concluded in Berlin last week, recording approximately 10,800 visitors, 570 exhibitors and 350 speakers. Previously known as conhIT, the exhibition and conference has re-positioned itself as a platform for digital healthcare, addressing a greater range of topics, a broader target group and featuring new interactive formats. TMF was an active participant, with its own stand in hall 1.2, and as an organiser of a number of conference sessions.

Research for better health: TMF annual conference spotlights the importance of translational research

160 attendees in Bonn, Germany, voice commitment to close cooperation between medical research and healthcare

21 March 2019. “The relentless rise of major, widespread illnesses, in conjunction with demographic change, makes translational research a critical challenge. Patients above all benefit when findings from research are quickly leveraged to improve day-to-day clinical practice,” explained conference chair Professor Wolfgang Hoffmann (Greifswald University Hospital), upon opening TMF’s annual conference. The event took place on 20 March 2019, in the spacious lecture hall of the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), in Bonn’s Venusberg district. Hoffmann underlined the need to overcome the boundaries between individual disciplines and fields – and to create a culture of data sharing. He continued: “Particularly for translation, that means going out, looking around, and listening to where there are unresolved needs in healthcare – and addressing them in a targeted way through research.” To this end, medical researchers need to be familiar with the practical imperatives and constraints of real-world patient care, and to actively involve patients in research.

TMF Advisory Board holds inaugural meeting

Focus on using healthcare data for research purposes

21 February 2019. The TMF Advisory Board has been reappointed with modified membership. Its inaugural meeting took place in Berlin on 21 February 2019. In particular, the board will focus on the usage of patient data for medical research and the German National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI), which is currently under development.

Fit for purpose: biobanks plan ahead for tomorrow’s research

300 experts discuss biobank challenges at the 7th German National Biobank Symposium in Berlin

12 December 2018. Biobanks make a vital contribution to the development of innovative diagnostics methods and patient treatments. Consequently, they are crucial to biomedical research. With this in mind, the 7th German National Biobank Symposium was held under the banner “Fit for Purpose” on 11 and 12 December 2018 in Berlin. Approximately 300 experts met to discuss the latest technologies, methods and trends. The event was jointly organised by TMF and by the German Biobank Node (GBN).

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