The Terminology Services component of the OpenHIE Architecture provides a centralized source for the HIE’s standards and definitions, including terminologies, ontologies, dictionaries, code systems, and value sets. Other HIE components can use these standards and definitions to normalize clinical data and achieve consistent aggregation and reporting. By using Terminology Services, an HIE can achieve semantic interoperability of its data. Semantic interoperability (or interoperability of meaning) enables accurate, consistent reporting and aggregation of clinical data. It also enables accurate exchange of information among members of the provider community, including labs, clinics, pharmacies, hospitals and imaging centers, which leads to improved patient care decisions. Benefits of the use of a Terminology Service include: - Standard Data: Using common terminology is vital for knowledge sharing over multiple locations. National and international code systems and value sets should be readily available for validation, comparison, and aggregation with local data. - Improved Care: Accurate and consistent data collection improves patient care analysis. Comparable patient data within and between patient populations leads to more consistent care delivery. - Better Reporting: Standardized data element representations result in consistent and accurate reporting. - Coordinated Care: Consistent and comparable analysis of healthcare utilization data leads to more informed decisions about resource allocation. https://guides.ohie.org/arch-spec/openhie-component-specifications-1/openhie-terminology-service-ts