Action verbs should be written in noun form within SNOMED CT descriptions. This most often means the verb will end with a suffix of –tion, -sion, -ment, -al, -ence, or -ance.
For example,
- Destruction instead of destroy
- Incision instead of incise
- Replacement instead of replace
- Removal instead of remove
- Maintenance instead of maintain
However, the root form of the verb may be used when it does not make a word when ending in noun suffixes.
For example,
- Control
- Release
- Care
Lastly, the verb with a suffix of –ing may be used when the root form of the verb may cause ambiguity in the meaning, i.e. the root form of the verb could also be a physical object.
For example,
- Wiring instead of wire
- Suturing instead of suture
- Splinting instead of splint
- Mapping instead of map
- Grafting instead of graft
Exceptions,
Common usage may dictate some exceptions.
For example,
- Repair instead of repairment
Although ‘repairment’ may be considered a valid word, its use has fallen out of common usage in comparison to ‘repair’.
Check for approved and unapproved naming patterns in the Precoordination Naming Pattern Project.
Past tense
A past tense verbal phrase should not be used to name a procedure, since it indicates that the procedure was done in the past.
Unacceptable example,
- Hand tendon ganglion excised indicates the procedure was done, as a past tense declarative statement.
However, the following is an acceptable example using a noun phrase,
Situation hierarchy
Existing descriptions containing past tense verbs should be moved to the 243796009 | Situation with explicit context (situation)| hierarchy.
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