# healthcare episode

## healthcare episode

A grouping of one or more healthcare encounters, in which a subject of care receives health care services for one or more health problems or disorders from a healthcare provider.

#### Notes

* A *healthcare episode* may be part of another *healthcare episode.* For example, a *healthcare episode* may include several outpatient encounters and one or more inpatient episodes.
* This general definition applies to SNOMED International documentation but it should be interpreted taking account of more specific national or organizational definitions of *healthcare episode.* This is particularly important as these definitions may have specific legal or financial implications.

## Alternatives

* **episode of care**

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