CSSDH: A Unified Ontology for Social Determinants ofHealth and Seamless Continuity of Care Data Exchange

Abstract

The growth of digital platforms has accelerated the shift toward technology-driven, home-based healthcare solutions, empowering individuals to monitor their health and share data with healthcare rofessionals when necessary. However, developing an effective care plan management system involves more than simply analyzing hospital records and Electronic Health Records (EHRs). It requires addressing individual patient needs and considering social determinants of health, such as living conditions and the exchange of healthcare information across different care settings. This complex healthcare ecosystem faces challenges like schema diversity (across EHRs, personal health records, etc.) and varying medical terminologies (e.g., ICD, SNOMEDCT) used in ancillary healthcare services. Achieving interoperability between diverse systems and applications is essential. The European Interoperability Framework (EIF) highlights the importance of ensuring patientcentric access and control over healthcare data. In this paper, we introduce an integrated ontological model—the Common Semantic Data Model for Social Determinants of Health (CSSDH)—which combines ISO/DIS 13940:2025 ContSys with the WHO framework for Social Determinants of Health. CSSDH is designed to enhance interoperability across the continuity of care networks.