The distinction between a "physician" and a "surgeon" and a "medical practitioner" is subject to regional variation. In the US, "physician" is often equated with "medical practitioner", and a "surgeon" is considered to be a "physician". In the UK, a "surgeon" is a "medical practitioner" but is not a "physician". In SNOMED, "physician" and "surgeon" are distinct siblings with no direct relationship, and both are children of "medical practitioner". It is recomended that "medical practitioner" be used rather than "physician" when there is uncertainty over whether the person is or is not a "surgeon".

There is no distinction between a "radiographer" and a "radiologic technologist", hence the same SNOMED concept is used for both, and "radiologic technologist" is provided as a synonym for use in the US.

In the US, the medical practitioner not in training responsible for the care of a hospital patient is referred to as an "attending". In the UK they are referrered to as a "consultant". Though these two concepts are essentially the same, they are separate concepts in SNOMED, which defines no explicit relationship between them.