Terms of Reference for the IHTSDO Translation User Group as of January 2026.

Purpose

The Translation User Group is a community space for sharing expertise, good practices, and guidance on translation activities across SNOMED International and its Members. The main aim is to support the use of SNOMED CT and help improve interoperability.

Mission

The group supports SNOMED International’s strategic goals by offering advice on translation work especially around quality assurance and managing translation processes. It also provides a place for members to share experiences, discuss challenges, and learn from each other.

The group aims to:

• Help SNOMED International gather input on translation best practices and current approaches.

• Provide a forum to discuss translation priorities, implementation experiences, and translation tooling needs.

• Identify ways SNOMED International can support Members in their translation activities.

• Stay connected with the Member Forum and other advisory groups to stay aware of developments that could affect translation work.

Scope

The group’s work includes:

• Providing an international forum for sharing knowledge and experience in translating SNOMED CT and other clinical terminologies.

• Offering practical advice on translation methods, translation tools, quality assurance, and key principles.

• Helping identify, document, and disseminate best practices, including reports from Members on their translation activities.

• Encouraging knowledge-sharing and collaboration across Member Countries.

• Serving as a source of expert advice on translation-related topics for both Members and SNOMED International.

• Supporting SNOMED International and the Community of Practice with advice on documentation, training, prioritization, implementation, and quality assurance.

• Contributing to quality assurance of SNOMED CT by identifying areas where clinical content or modeling could be improved, including the submission of content requests informed by translation experience.

• Providing a transcultural and international perspective on the meanings and interpretations of concepts in SNOMED CT, helping to ensure that content is usable, clear, and appropriate across languages, cultures, and healthcare contexts.

Principles

• The group operates in line with the SNOMED International Articles of Association and all relevant policies and procedures.

• All activities of the group should be open, fair, and transparent.

• Advice or guidance provided by the group should be based on authoritative SNOMED International materials or, when appropriate, reputable external sources.

• If no suitable or authoritative source exists for a particular topic, the group will raise the issue with SNOMED International so that suitable review and approval can be provided before any guidance is shared.

Participation

• Anyone in the SNOMED International community with an interest in translation is welcome to join the group.

• Participants should have (or be developing) an understanding of SNOMED CT and translation work.

• Participants must declare any real or potential conflicts of interest.

  • The Chair will manage these.

  • If the Chair has a conflict, the Co-Chair or another neutral participant will step in.

Coordination and Leadership

• The group is led by a Chair and a Co-Chair, who share responsibilities and support each other.

• Leadership roles are reviewed on a staggered cycle:

  • The Chair role is reviewed every two years.

  • The Co-Chair role is reviewed in the alternate years.

• The Co-Chair acts as Chair whenever needed or at the Chair’s request.

• Selection and renewal follow SNOMED International policies and procedures.

Communications

• Most communication happens remotely through teleconferences, webinars, and online discussions.

• Online discussions take place in SNOMED Forums, the SNOMED International collaborative/communications platform.

• Meeting agendas, minutes, and other documents are stored and shared through SNOMED Spaces, the group’s Confluence space.

• All materials and updates are kept in the group’s designated areas so that information is easy for everyone to access.

• Teleconferences use audio and screen-sharing tools listed on the group’s Confluence Meeting Information page.

Meetings

• Meetings are open to all registered participants.

• The group meets regularly by teleconference at times proposed by the Chair and supported by members.

• Meeting schedules should take time zones into account and avoid conflicts with other SNOMED-related calls.