MEDICATION REFERENCE TERMINOLOGY MED-RT

Standardization of Drugs Reference Files  MED-RT is a Medication Reference Terminology. As the successor to the NDF-RT, MED-RT leverages new Informatics and terminology tools and internationally standardized terminologies to assert pharmacological classifications and relationships. JPSYS periodically updates MED-RT and builds the new releases for the VHA.  This standardized reference terminology is used by many providers as part of their vocabularies. We created and placed Hierarchical Established Pharmacological Classes (EPCs) in MED-RT, working alongside VA and FDA.  We identified EPCs that fell under newly created hierarchical EPCs and moved them to newly added concepts. Currently, we update and publish MED-RT with RxNorm, MeSH, and FDA SPL files. We also support internal MED-RT efforts to analyze drugs newly approved by the FDA to determine the proper drug class in which they fit. Lately, as new drugs do not fit in the currently defined classes, new drug classes need to be defined.

In 2017, ND-FRT transitioned to Medical Reference Terminology (MED-RT), which has more benefits for the VA and the future of EHRs and Health IT. MED-RT offers multi-terminology, RxNorm-centered content, and Distributed Terminology System (DTS) environments. With MED-RT, our experts can navigate between four terminology standards: RxNORM, MeSH, SNOMED CT, and MED-RT. The first three terminologies focus on drugs and their classifications. RxNorm provides a source of drug ingredients; MeSH contains diseases, chemicals, and drug classifications to express therapeutic indications; and SNOMED CT extends those drug classifications. The MED-RT terminology standard delves deeper into the microbiological and physiological effects and classifications of these drugs. MED-RT is spliced into six sections: Mechanisms of Action, Physiological Effects, FDA Established Pharmacologic Classes, Pharmacokinetics, and Therapeutic Categories.