Implementing a local terminology server for SNOMED

Building point solutions using partial codesets (refsets) as each need arises may be efficient for each point solution. Point solutions create maintenance overhead that will accumulate as SNOMED is used more and more.

Ideally we would all connect to a central high availability environment however current recommendation is that a local runtime instance of SNOMED terminology server should be used for production applications (https://www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/our-health-system/digital-health/terminology-service/).

To closely couple applications would require local runtime instance rather than linking to central NZHTS. This requires a local copy of the terminology server for local applications. Maintain once use many times. {NB being very lose with the definition of ‘local’}

Has any Te Whatu Ora organisation already implemented a local copy? Or is there a relatively inexpensive commercial option available that is in use already?

There are descriptions of how a local terminology service can be done on both SNOMED international and Australian Digital Health Agency sites, and probably on other sites. Anyone with experience in downloading installing a runtime instance please post in this thread.

Would be helpful if we could collaborate on install, and maintenance. Likely we will need to have local terminology servers in multiple places.

Thoughts, suggestions, pointers to code (github etc). Other forums?

Regards Paul Docherty (TWO Waikato)

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You might want to talk to Alastair about this - there’s no reason (apart from cost) why the term server couldn’t be made HA. An alternative would be replicating the Ontoserver locally (that’s built in to Ontoserver)…

The Ontoserver instance at the heart of our NZHTS is for reference today but we’re working hard to add the high availability frontline integration will need.
A hub and spoke model of deployment with syndicated feeds to local instances of Ontoserver is also possible, but the default choice should be to use the high availability central instance directly. We’ll update the message on the website to say more about this.
We also support development shops who want to be more decoupled (for example in software with a disconnected mode or for export). And here there’s the free and open source option of Snowstorm, the terminology server from SNOMED International that sits behind the SNOMED Browser and the SNOMED Authoring Platform we use.
Regardless of deployment, the SNOMED NZ Edition remains the standard product everyone needs to stay current with.
Thanks for the question @PaulD!

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