Which organization maintains the guidelines of SNOMED-CT?

The International Health Terminology Standards Development Organisation (IHTSDO) is the authoritative body responsible for maintaining the guidelines and standards of SNOMED-CT (Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine—Clinical Terms). This organization oversees the development and management of this comprehensive clinical terminology which is crucial for electronic health records and interoperability in healthcare systems. By ensuring that SNOMED-CT is continuously updated and relevant, IHTSDO promotes standardization in health data exchange and clinical documentation, which is vital for improving patient care and health outcomes.

The other organizations mentioned serve different purposes within the healthcare industry. For instance, the World Health Organization (WHO) focuses on international public health and disease classification, but does not manage SNOMED-CT. The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) is primarily involved in health information management and advocacy, while the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) focuses on advancing health through information and technology but does not oversee terminology standards. Thus, IHTSDO's dedicated role makes it the correct answer in this context.