Who distributed SNOMED-CT guidelines to hospitals free of charge?

The correct answer highlights the role of the National Library of Medicine (NLM) in distributing SNOMED-CT guidelines to hospitals without charge. The NLM, as a prominent institution in health informatics and biomedical information, understands the importance of standardized medical terminologies such as SNOMED-CT for ensuring interoperability and effective health data exchange. By providing these guidelines for free, the NLM aims to enhance the quality of healthcare documentation and support healthcare providers in the adoption of comprehensive coding systems, which ultimately contributes to improved patient care and public health research.

It is important to recognize the collaborative efforts in the health informatics space, but the specific focus of the NLM as a distributor of SNOMED-CT guidelines emphasizes its commitment to making essential resources accessible for hospitals and health organizations.