US Core Implementation Guide
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US Core Implementation Guide, published by HL7 International / Cross-Group Projects. This guide is not an authorized publication; it is the continuous build for version 7.0.0 built by the FHIR (HL7® FHIR® Standard) CI Build. This version is based on the current content of https://github.com/HL7/US-Core/ and changes regularly. See the Directory of published versions

Resource Profile: USCoreDocumentReferenceProfile - Detailed Descriptions

Page standards status: Trial-use Maturity Level: 3

Definitions for the us-core-documentreference resource profile.

Guidance on how to interpret the contents of this table can be found here

0. DocumentReference
Must Supportfalse
2. DocumentReference.identifier
NoteThis is a business identifier, not a resource identifier (see discussion)
Must Supporttrue
4. DocumentReference.status
BindingThe codes SHALL be taken from DocumentReferenceStatus
(required to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/document-reference-status)
Must Supporttrue
6. DocumentReference.type
Control1..?
BindingThe codes SHALL be taken from US Core DocumentReference Type
(required to http://hl7.org/fhir/us/core/ValueSet/us-core-documentreference-type)

All LOINC values whose SCALE is "Doc" in the LOINC database and the HL7 v3 Code System NullFlavor concept 'unknown'

Additional BindingsPurpose
US Core Clinical Note TypeMin Binding
Must Supporttrue
8. DocumentReference.category
Control1..?
Must Supporttrue
SlicingThis element introduces a set of slices on DocumentReference.category. The slices are unordered and Open, and can be differentiated using the following discriminators:
  • pattern @ $this
  • 10. DocumentReference.category:uscore
    Slice Nameuscore
    Short𝗔𝗗𝗗𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗨𝗦𝗖𝗗𝗜: Categorization of document
    BindingThe codes SHALL be taken from US Core DocumentReference Category
    (required to http://hl7.org/fhir/us/core/ValueSet/us-core-documentreference-category)

    The US Core DocumentReferences Type Value Set is a "starter set" of categories supported for fetching and storing clinical notes. Note that other codes are permitted, see Required Bindings When Slicing by Value Sets

    12. DocumentReference.subject
    Control1..?
    TypeReference(US Core Patient Profile, Practitioner, Group, Device)
    Must Supporttrue
    Must Support TypesReference(US Core Patient Profile)
    14. DocumentReference.date
    Must Supporttrue
    16. DocumentReference.author
    TypeReference(US Core Practitioner Profile, US Core Organization Profile, US Core Patient Profile, US Core PractitionerRole Profile, US Core RelatedPerson Profile, Device)
    Must Supporttrue
    Must Support TypesReference(US Core Practitioner Profile)
    18. DocumentReference.content
    Must Supporttrue
    20. DocumentReference.content.attachment
    Definition

    The document and format referenced.

    Comments

    If there are multiple DocumentReference.content element repetitions, these SHALL all represent the same document in different format or attachment metadata. The content element SHALL NOT contain different versions of the same content. For version handling use multiple DocumentReferences with DocumentReference.relatesTo.

    Must Supporttrue
    Invariantsus-core-6: DocumentReference.content.attachment.url or DocumentReference.content.attachment.data or both SHALL be present. (url.exists() or data.exists())
    22. DocumentReference.content.attachment.contentType
    Must Supporttrue
    24. DocumentReference.content.attachment.data
    Control0..?
    This element is affected by the following invariants: us-core-6
    Must Supporttrue
    26. DocumentReference.content.attachment.url
    Control0..?
    This element is affected by the following invariants: us-core-6
    Must Supporttrue
    28. DocumentReference.content.format
    BindingUnless not suitable, these codes SHALL be taken from DocumentReferenceFormatCodeSet
    (extensible to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/formatcodes)
    Must Supporttrue
    30. DocumentReference.context
    Must Supporttrue
    32. DocumentReference.context.encounter
    Control0..1
    TypeReference(US Core Encounter Profile)
    Must Supporttrue
    34. DocumentReference.context.period
    Must Supporttrue

    Guidance on how to interpret the contents of this table can be found here

    0. DocumentReference
    Definition

    A reference to a document of any kind for any purpose. Provides metadata about the document so that the document can be discovered and managed. The scope of a document is any seralized object with a mime-type, so includes formal patient centric documents (CDA), cliical notes, scanned paper, and non-patient specific documents like policy text.

    ShortA reference to a document
    Comments

    Usually, this is used for documents other than those defined by FHIR.

    Control0..*
    Is Modifierfalse
    Must Supportfalse
    Summaryfalse
    Invariantsdom-2: If the resource is contained in another resource, it SHALL NOT contain nested Resources (contained.contained.empty())
    dom-3: If the resource is contained in another resource, it SHALL be referred to from elsewhere in the resource or SHALL refer to the containing resource (contained.where((('#'+id in (%resource.descendants().reference | %resource.descendants().as(canonical) | %resource.descendants().as(uri) | %resource.descendants().as(url))) or descendants().where(reference = '#').exists() or descendants().where(as(canonical) = '#').exists() or descendants().where(as(canonical) = '#').exists()).not()).trace('unmatched', id).empty())
    dom-4: If a resource is contained in another resource, it SHALL NOT have a meta.versionId or a meta.lastUpdated (contained.meta.versionId.empty() and contained.meta.lastUpdated.empty())
    dom-5: If a resource is contained in another resource, it SHALL NOT have a security label (contained.meta.security.empty())
    dom-6: A resource should have narrative for robust management (text.`div`.exists())
    2. DocumentReference.implicitRules
    Definition

    A reference to a set of rules that were followed when the resource was constructed, and which must be understood when processing the content. Often, this is a reference to an implementation guide that defines the special rules along with other profiles etc.

    ShortA set of rules under which this content was created
    Comments

    Asserting this rule set restricts the content to be only understood by a limited set of trading partners. This inherently limits the usefulness of the data in the long term. However, the existing health eco-system is highly fractured, and not yet ready to define, collect, and exchange data in a generally computable sense. Wherever possible, implementers and/or specification writers should avoid using this element. Often, when used, the URL is a reference to an implementation guide that defines these special rules as part of it's narrative along with other profiles, value sets, etc.

    Control0..1
    Typeuri
    Is Modifiertrue because This element is labeled as a modifier because the implicit rules may provide additional knowledge about the resource that modifies it's meaning or interpretation
    Primitive ValueThis primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
    Summarytrue
    Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
    4. DocumentReference.modifierExtension
    Definition

    May be used to represent additional information that is not part of the basic definition of the resource and that modifies the understanding of the element that contains it and/or the understanding of the containing element's descendants. Usually modifier elements provide negation or qualification. To make the use of extensions safe and manageable, there is a strict set of governance applied to the definition and use of extensions. Though any implementer is allowed to define an extension, there is a set of requirements that SHALL be met as part of the definition of the extension. Applications processing a resource are required to check for modifier extensions.

    Modifier extensions SHALL NOT change the meaning of any elements on Resource or DomainResource (including cannot change the meaning of modifierExtension itself).

    ShortExtensions that cannot be ignored
    Comments

    There can be no stigma associated with the use of extensions by any application, project, or standard - regardless of the institution or jurisdiction that uses or defines the extensions. The use of extensions is what allows the FHIR specification to retain a core level of simplicity for everyone.

    Control0..*
    TypeExtension
    Is Modifiertrue because Modifier extensions are expected to modify the meaning or interpretation of the resource that contains them
    Summaryfalse
    Requirements

    Modifier extensions allow for extensions that cannot be safely ignored to be clearly distinguished from the vast majority of extensions which can be safely ignored. This promotes interoperability by eliminating the need for implementers to prohibit the presence of extensions. For further information, see the definition of modifier extensions.

    Alternate Namesextensions, user content
    Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
    ext-1: Must have either extensions or value[x], not both (extension.exists() != value.exists())
    6. DocumentReference.identifier
    Definition

    Other identifiers associated with the document, including version independent identifiers.

    ShortOther identifiers for the document
    NoteThis is a business identifier, not a resource identifier (see discussion)
    Control0..*
    TypeIdentifier
    Is Modifierfalse
    Must Supporttrue
    Summarytrue
    Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
    8. DocumentReference.status
    Definition

    The status of this document reference.

    Shortcurrent | superseded | entered-in-error
    Comments

    This is the status of the DocumentReference object, which might be independent from the docStatus element.

    This element is labeled as a modifier because the status contains the codes that mark the document or reference as not currently valid.

    Control1..1
    BindingThe codes SHALL be taken from DocumentReferenceStatushttp://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/document-reference-status|4.0.1
    (required to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/document-reference-status)
    Typecode
    Is Modifiertrue because This element is labelled as a modifier because it is a status element that contains status entered-in-error which means that the resource should not be treated as valid
    Primitive ValueThis primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
    Must Supporttrue
    Summarytrue
    Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
    10. DocumentReference.type
    Definition

    Specifies the particular kind of document referenced (e.g. History and Physical, Discharge Summary, Progress Note). This usually equates to the purpose of making the document referenced.

    ShortKind of document (LOINC if possible)
    Comments

    Key metadata element describing the document that describes he exact type of document. Helps humans to assess whether the document is of interest when viewing a list of documents.

    Control10..1
    BindingThe codes SHALL be taken from The codes SHOULD be taken from US Core DocumentReference Typehttp://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/c80-doc-typecodes
    (required to http://hl7.org/fhir/us/core/ValueSet/us-core-documentreference-type)

    All LOINC values whose SCALE is "Doc" in the LOINC database and the HL7 v3 Code System NullFlavor concept 'unknown'


    Precise type of clinical document.

    Additional BindingsPurpose
    US Core Clinical Note TypeMin Binding
    TypeCodeableConcept
    Is Modifierfalse
    Must Supporttrue
    Summarytrue
    Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
    12. DocumentReference.category
    Definition

    A categorization for the type of document referenced - helps for indexing and searching. This may be implied by or derived from the code specified in the DocumentReference.type.

    ShortCategorization of document
    Comments

    Key metadata element describing the the category or classification of the document. This is a broader perspective that groups similar documents based on how they would be used. This is a primary key used in searching.

    Control10..*
    BindingFor example codes, see DocumentClassValueSethttp://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/document-classcodes
    (example to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/document-classcodes)

    High-level kind of a clinical document at a macro level.

    TypeCodeableConcept
    Is Modifierfalse
    Must Supporttrue
    Summarytrue
    Alternate Namesclaxs
    Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
    SlicingThis element introduces a set of slices on DocumentReference.category. The slices are unordered and Open, and can be differentiated using the following discriminators:
    • pattern @ $this
    • 14. DocumentReference.category:uscore
      Slice Nameuscore
      Definition

      A categorization for the type of document referenced - helps for indexing and searching. This may be implied by or derived from the code specified in the DocumentReference.type.

      Short𝗔𝗗𝗗𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗨𝗦𝗖𝗗𝗜: Categorization of documentCategorization of document
      Comments

      Key metadata element describing the the category or classification of the document. This is a broader perspective that groups similar documents based on how they would be used. This is a primary key used in searching.

      Control0..*
      BindingThe codes SHALL be taken from For example codes, see US Core DocumentReference Categoryhttp://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/document-classcodes
      (required to http://hl7.org/fhir/us/core/ValueSet/us-core-documentreference-category)

      The US Core DocumentReferences Type Value Set is a "starter set" of categories supported for fetching and storing clinical notes. Note that other codes are permitted, see Required Bindings When Slicing by Value Sets


      High-level kind of a clinical document at a macro level.

      TypeCodeableConcept
      Is Modifierfalse
      Summarytrue
      Alternate Namesclaxs
      Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
      16. DocumentReference.subject
      Definition

      Who or what the document is about. The document can be about a person, (patient or healthcare practitioner), a device (e.g. a machine) or even a group of subjects (such as a document about a herd of farm animals, or a set of patients that share a common exposure).

      ShortWho/what is the subject of the document
      Control10..1
      TypeReference(US Core Patient Profile, Practitioner, Group, Device, Patient)
      Is Modifierfalse
      Must Supporttrue
      Must Support TypesReference(US Core Patient Profile)
      Summarytrue
      Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
      18. DocumentReference.date
      Definition

      When the document reference was created.

      ShortWhen this document reference was created
      Comments

      Referencing/indexing time is used for tracking, organizing versions and searching.

      Control0..1
      Typeinstant
      Is Modifierfalse
      Primitive ValueThis primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
      Must Supporttrue
      Summarytrue
      Alternate Namesindexed
      Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
      20. DocumentReference.author
      Definition

      Identifies who is responsible for adding the information to the document.

      ShortWho and/or what authored the document
      Comments

      Not necessarily who did the actual data entry (i.e. typist) or who was the source (informant).

      Control0..*
      TypeReference(US Core Practitioner Profile, US Core Organization Profile, US Core Patient Profile, US Core PractitionerRole Profile, US Core RelatedPerson Profile, Device, Practitioner, PractitionerRole, Organization, Patient, RelatedPerson)
      Is Modifierfalse
      Must Supporttrue
      Must Support TypesReference(US Core Practitioner Profile)
      Summarytrue
      Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
      22. DocumentReference.content
      Definition

      The document and format referenced. There may be multiple content element repetitions, each with a different format.

      ShortDocument referenced
      Control1..*
      TypeBackboneElement
      Is Modifierfalse
      Must Supporttrue
      Summarytrue
      Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
      24. DocumentReference.content.modifierExtension
      Definition

      May be used to represent additional information that is not part of the basic definition of the element and that modifies the understanding of the element in which it is contained and/or the understanding of the containing element's descendants. Usually modifier elements provide negation or qualification. To make the use of extensions safe and manageable, there is a strict set of governance applied to the definition and use of extensions. Though any implementer can define an extension, there is a set of requirements that SHALL be met as part of the definition of the extension. Applications processing a resource are required to check for modifier extensions.

      Modifier extensions SHALL NOT change the meaning of any elements on Resource or DomainResource (including cannot change the meaning of modifierExtension itself).

      ShortExtensions that cannot be ignored even if unrecognized
      Comments

      There can be no stigma associated with the use of extensions by any application, project, or standard - regardless of the institution or jurisdiction that uses or defines the extensions. The use of extensions is what allows the FHIR specification to retain a core level of simplicity for everyone.

      Control0..*
      TypeExtension
      Is Modifiertrue because Modifier extensions are expected to modify the meaning or interpretation of the element that contains them
      Summarytrue
      Requirements

      Modifier extensions allow for extensions that cannot be safely ignored to be clearly distinguished from the vast majority of extensions which can be safely ignored. This promotes interoperability by eliminating the need for implementers to prohibit the presence of extensions. For further information, see the definition of modifier extensions.

      Alternate Namesextensions, user content, modifiers
      Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
      ext-1: Must have either extensions or value[x], not both (extension.exists() != value.exists())
      26. DocumentReference.content.attachment
      Definition

      The document and format referenced.


      The document or URL of the document along with critical metadata to prove content has integrity.

      ShortWhere to access the document
      Comments

      If there are multiple DocumentReference.content element repetitions, these SHALL all represent the same document in different format or attachment metadata. The content element SHALL NOT contain different versions of the same content. For version handling use multiple DocumentReferences with DocumentReference.relatesTo.

      Control1..1
      TypeAttachment
      Is Modifierfalse
      Must Supporttrue
      Summarytrue
      Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
      us-core-6: DocumentReference.content.attachment.url or DocumentReference.content.attachment.data or both SHALL be present. (url.exists() or data.exists())
      28. DocumentReference.content.attachment.contentType
      Definition

      Identifies the type of the data in the attachment and allows a method to be chosen to interpret or render the data. Includes mime type parameters such as charset where appropriate.

      ShortMime type of the content, with charset etc.
      Control0..1
      BindingThe codes SHALL be taken from Mime Typeshttp://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/mimetypes|4.0.1
      (required to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/mimetypes|4.0.1)

      The mime type of an attachment. Any valid mime type is allowed.

      Typecode
      Is Modifierfalse
      Primitive ValueThis primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
      Must Supporttrue
      Summarytrue
      Requirements

      Processors of the data need to be able to know how to interpret the data.

      Example<br/><b>General</b>:text/plain; charset=UTF-8, image/png
      Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
      30. DocumentReference.content.attachment.data
      Definition

      The actual data of the attachment - a sequence of bytes, base64 encoded.

      ShortData inline, base64ed
      Comments

      The base64-encoded data SHALL be expressed in the same character set as the base resource XML or JSON.

      Control0..1
      This element is affected by the following invariants: us-core-6
      Typebase64Binary
      Is Modifierfalse
      Primitive ValueThis primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
      Must Supporttrue
      Summaryfalse
      Requirements

      The data needs to able to be transmitted inline.

      Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
      32. DocumentReference.content.attachment.url
      Definition

      A location where the data can be accessed.

      ShortUri where the data can be found
      Comments

      If both data and url are provided, the url SHALL point to the same content as the data contains. Urls may be relative references or may reference transient locations such as a wrapping envelope using cid: though this has ramifications for using signatures. Relative URLs are interpreted relative to the service url, like a resource reference, rather than relative to the resource itself. If a URL is provided, it SHALL resolve to actual data.

      Control0..1
      This element is affected by the following invariants: us-core-6
      Typeurl
      Is Modifierfalse
      Primitive ValueThis primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
      Must Supporttrue
      Summarytrue
      Requirements

      The data needs to be transmitted by reference.

      Example<br/><b>General</b>:http://www.acme.com/logo-small.png
      Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
      34. DocumentReference.content.format
      Definition

      An identifier of the document encoding, structure, and template that the document conforms to beyond the base format indicated in the mimeType.

      ShortFormat/content rules for the document
      Comments

      Note that while IHE mostly issues URNs for format types, not all documents can be identified by a URI.

      Control0..1
      BindingUnless not suitable, these codes SHALL be taken from The codes SHOULD be taken from DocumentReferenceFormatCodeSethttp://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/formatcodes
      (extensible to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/formatcodes)
      TypeCoding
      Is Modifierfalse
      Must Supporttrue
      Summarytrue
      Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
      36. DocumentReference.context
      Definition

      The clinical context in which the document was prepared.

      ShortClinical context of document
      Comments

      These values are primarily added to help with searching for interesting/relevant documents.

      Control0..1
      TypeBackboneElement
      Is Modifierfalse
      Must Supporttrue
      Summarytrue
      Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
      38. DocumentReference.context.modifierExtension
      Definition

      May be used to represent additional information that is not part of the basic definition of the element and that modifies the understanding of the element in which it is contained and/or the understanding of the containing element's descendants. Usually modifier elements provide negation or qualification. To make the use of extensions safe and manageable, there is a strict set of governance applied to the definition and use of extensions. Though any implementer can define an extension, there is a set of requirements that SHALL be met as part of the definition of the extension. Applications processing a resource are required to check for modifier extensions.

      Modifier extensions SHALL NOT change the meaning of any elements on Resource or DomainResource (including cannot change the meaning of modifierExtension itself).

      ShortExtensions that cannot be ignored even if unrecognized
      Comments

      There can be no stigma associated with the use of extensions by any application, project, or standard - regardless of the institution or jurisdiction that uses or defines the extensions. The use of extensions is what allows the FHIR specification to retain a core level of simplicity for everyone.

      Control0..*
      TypeExtension
      Is Modifiertrue because Modifier extensions are expected to modify the meaning or interpretation of the element that contains them
      Summarytrue
      Requirements

      Modifier extensions allow for extensions that cannot be safely ignored to be clearly distinguished from the vast majority of extensions which can be safely ignored. This promotes interoperability by eliminating the need for implementers to prohibit the presence of extensions. For further information, see the definition of modifier extensions.

      Alternate Namesextensions, user content, modifiers
      Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
      ext-1: Must have either extensions or value[x], not both (extension.exists() != value.exists())
      40. DocumentReference.context.encounter
      Definition

      Describes the clinical encounter or type of care that the document content is associated with.

      ShortContext of the document content
      Control0..1*
      TypeReference(US Core Encounter Profile, Encounter, EpisodeOfCare)
      Is Modifierfalse
      Must Supporttrue
      Summaryfalse
      Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
      42. DocumentReference.context.period
      Definition

      The time period over which the service that is described by the document was provided.

      ShortTime of service that is being documented
      Control0..1
      TypePeriod
      Is Modifierfalse
      Must Supporttrue
      Summarytrue
      Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))

      Guidance on how to interpret the contents of this table can be found here

      0. DocumentReference
      Definition

      A reference to a document of any kind for any purpose. Provides metadata about the document so that the document can be discovered and managed. The scope of a document is any seralized object with a mime-type, so includes formal patient centric documents (CDA), cliical notes, scanned paper, and non-patient specific documents like policy text.

      ShortA reference to a document
      Comments

      Usually, this is used for documents other than those defined by FHIR.

      Control0..*
      Is Modifierfalse
      Must Supportfalse
      Summaryfalse
      Invariantsdom-2: If the resource is contained in another resource, it SHALL NOT contain nested Resources (contained.contained.empty())
      dom-3: If the resource is contained in another resource, it SHALL be referred to from elsewhere in the resource or SHALL refer to the containing resource (contained.where((('#'+id in (%resource.descendants().reference | %resource.descendants().as(canonical) | %resource.descendants().as(uri) | %resource.descendants().as(url))) or descendants().where(reference = '#').exists() or descendants().where(as(canonical) = '#').exists() or descendants().where(as(canonical) = '#').exists()).not()).trace('unmatched', id).empty())
      dom-4: If a resource is contained in another resource, it SHALL NOT have a meta.versionId or a meta.lastUpdated (contained.meta.versionId.empty() and contained.meta.lastUpdated.empty())
      dom-5: If a resource is contained in another resource, it SHALL NOT have a security label (contained.meta.security.empty())
      dom-6: A resource should have narrative for robust management (text.`div`.exists())
      2. DocumentReference.id
      Definition

      The logical id of the resource, as used in the URL for the resource. Once assigned, this value never changes.

      ShortLogical id of this artifact
      Comments

      The only time that a resource does not have an id is when it is being submitted to the server using a create operation.

      Control0..1
      Typeid
      Is Modifierfalse
      Summarytrue
      4. DocumentReference.meta
      Definition

      The metadata about the resource. This is content that is maintained by the infrastructure. Changes to the content might not always be associated with version changes to the resource.

      ShortMetadata about the resource
      Control0..1
      TypeMeta
      Is Modifierfalse
      Summarytrue
      Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
      6. DocumentReference.implicitRules
      Definition

      A reference to a set of rules that were followed when the resource was constructed, and which must be understood when processing the content. Often, this is a reference to an implementation guide that defines the special rules along with other profiles etc.

      ShortA set of rules under which this content was created
      Comments

      Asserting this rule set restricts the content to be only understood by a limited set of trading partners. This inherently limits the usefulness of the data in the long term. However, the existing health eco-system is highly fractured, and not yet ready to define, collect, and exchange data in a generally computable sense. Wherever possible, implementers and/or specification writers should avoid using this element. Often, when used, the URL is a reference to an implementation guide that defines these special rules as part of it's narrative along with other profiles, value sets, etc.

      Control0..1
      Typeuri
      Is Modifiertrue because This element is labeled as a modifier because the implicit rules may provide additional knowledge about the resource that modifies it's meaning or interpretation
      Primitive ValueThis primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
      Summarytrue
      Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
      8. DocumentReference.language
      Definition

      The base language in which the resource is written.

      ShortLanguage of the resource content
      Comments

      Language is provided to support indexing and accessibility (typically, services such as text to speech use the language tag). The html language tag in the narrative applies to the narrative. The language tag on the resource may be used to specify the language of other presentations generated from the data in the resource. Not all the content has to be in the base language. The Resource.language should not be assumed to apply to the narrative automatically. If a language is specified, it should it also be specified on the div element in the html (see rules in HTML5 for information about the relationship between xml:lang and the html lang attribute).

      Control0..1
      BindingThe codes SHOULD be taken from CommonLanguages
      (preferred to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/languages)

      A human language.

      Additional BindingsPurpose
      AllLanguagesMax Binding
      Typecode
      Is Modifierfalse
      Primitive ValueThis primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
      Summaryfalse
      Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
      10. DocumentReference.text
      Definition

      A human-readable narrative that contains a summary of the resource and can be used to represent the content of the resource to a human. The narrative need not encode all the structured data, but is required to contain sufficient detail to make it "clinically safe" for a human to just read the narrative. Resource definitions may define what content should be represented in the narrative to ensure clinical safety.

      ShortText summary of the resource, for human interpretation
      Comments

      Contained resources do not have narrative. Resources that are not contained SHOULD have a narrative. In some cases, a resource may only have text with little or no additional discrete data (as long as all minOccurs=1 elements are satisfied). This may be necessary for data from legacy systems where information is captured as a "text blob" or where text is additionally entered raw or narrated and encoded information is added later.

      Control0..1
      TypeNarrative
      Is Modifierfalse
      Summaryfalse
      Alternate Namesnarrative, html, xhtml, display
      Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
      12. DocumentReference.contained
      Definition

      These resources do not have an independent existence apart from the resource that contains them - they cannot be identified independently, and nor can they have their own independent transaction scope.

      ShortContained, inline Resources
      Comments

      This should never be done when the content can be identified properly, as once identification is lost, it is extremely difficult (and context dependent) to restore it again. Contained resources may have profiles and tags In their meta elements, but SHALL NOT have security labels.

      Control0..*
      TypeResource
      Is Modifierfalse
      Summaryfalse
      Alternate Namesinline resources, anonymous resources, contained resources
      14. DocumentReference.extension
      Definition

      May be used to represent additional information that is not part of the basic definition of the resource. To make the use of extensions safe and manageable, there is a strict set of governance applied to the definition and use of extensions. Though any implementer can define an extension, there is a set of requirements that SHALL be met as part of the definition of the extension.

      ShortAdditional content defined by implementations
      Comments

      There can be no stigma associated with the use of extensions by any application, project, or standard - regardless of the institution or jurisdiction that uses or defines the extensions. The use of extensions is what allows the FHIR specification to retain a core level of simplicity for everyone.

      Control0..*
      TypeExtension
      Is Modifierfalse
      Summaryfalse
      Alternate Namesextensions, user content
      Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
      ext-1: Must have either extensions or value[x], not both (extension.exists() != value.exists())
      16. DocumentReference.modifierExtension
      Definition

      May be used to represent additional information that is not part of the basic definition of the resource and that modifies the understanding of the element that contains it and/or the understanding of the containing element's descendants. Usually modifier elements provide negation or qualification. To make the use of extensions safe and manageable, there is a strict set of governance applied to the definition and use of extensions. Though any implementer is allowed to define an extension, there is a set of requirements that SHALL be met as part of the definition of the extension. Applications processing a resource are required to check for modifier extensions.

      Modifier extensions SHALL NOT change the meaning of any elements on Resource or DomainResource (including cannot change the meaning of modifierExtension itself).

      ShortExtensions that cannot be ignored
      Comments

      There can be no stigma associated with the use of extensions by any application, project, or standard - regardless of the institution or jurisdiction that uses or defines the extensions. The use of extensions is what allows the FHIR specification to retain a core level of simplicity for everyone.

      Control0..*
      TypeExtension
      Is Modifiertrue because Modifier extensions are expected to modify the meaning or interpretation of the resource that contains them
      Summaryfalse
      Requirements

      Modifier extensions allow for extensions that cannot be safely ignored to be clearly distinguished from the vast majority of extensions which can be safely ignored. This promotes interoperability by eliminating the need for implementers to prohibit the presence of extensions. For further information, see the definition of modifier extensions.

      Alternate Namesextensions, user content
      Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
      ext-1: Must have either extensions or value[x], not both (extension.exists() != value.exists())
      18. DocumentReference.masterIdentifier
      Definition

      Document identifier as assigned by the source of the document. This identifier is specific to this version of the document. This unique identifier may be used elsewhere to identify this version of the document.

      ShortMaster Version Specific Identifier
      Comments

      CDA Document Id extension and root.

      Control0..1
      TypeIdentifier
      Is Modifierfalse
      Summarytrue
      Requirements

      The structure and format of this Id shall be consistent with the specification corresponding to the formatCode attribute. (e.g. for a DICOM standard document a 64-character numeric UID, for an HL7 CDA format a serialization of the CDA Document Id extension and root in the form "oid^extension", where OID is a 64 digits max, and the Id is a 16 UTF-8 char max. If the OID is coded without the extension then the '^' character shall not be included.).

      Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
      20. DocumentReference.identifier
      Definition

      Other identifiers associated with the document, including version independent identifiers.

      ShortOther identifiers for the document
      NoteThis is a business identifier, not a resource identifier (see discussion)
      Control0..*
      TypeIdentifier
      Is Modifierfalse
      Must Supporttrue
      Summarytrue
      Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
      22. DocumentReference.status
      Definition

      The status of this document reference.

      Shortcurrent | superseded | entered-in-error
      Comments

      This is the status of the DocumentReference object, which might be independent from the docStatus element.

      This element is labeled as a modifier because the status contains the codes that mark the document or reference as not currently valid.

      Control1..1
      BindingThe codes SHALL be taken from DocumentReferenceStatus
      (required to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/document-reference-status)
      Typecode
      Is Modifiertrue because This element is labelled as a modifier because it is a status element that contains status entered-in-error which means that the resource should not be treated as valid
      Primitive ValueThis primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
      Must Supporttrue
      Summarytrue
      Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
      24. DocumentReference.docStatus
      Definition

      The status of the underlying document.

      Shortpreliminary | final | amended | entered-in-error
      Comments

      The document that is pointed to might be in various lifecycle states.

      Control0..1
      BindingThe codes SHALL be taken from CompositionStatus
      (required to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/composition-status|4.0.1)

      Status of the underlying document.

      Typecode
      Is Modifierfalse
      Primitive ValueThis primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
      Summarytrue
      Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
      26. DocumentReference.type
      Definition

      Specifies the particular kind of document referenced (e.g. History and Physical, Discharge Summary, Progress Note). This usually equates to the purpose of making the document referenced.

      ShortKind of document (LOINC if possible)
      Comments

      Key metadata element describing the document that describes he exact type of document. Helps humans to assess whether the document is of interest when viewing a list of documents.

      Control1..1
      BindingThe codes SHALL be taken from US Core DocumentReference Type
      (required to http://hl7.org/fhir/us/core/ValueSet/us-core-documentreference-type)

      All LOINC values whose SCALE is "Doc" in the LOINC database and the HL7 v3 Code System NullFlavor concept 'unknown'

      Additional BindingsPurpose
      US Core Clinical Note TypeMin Binding
      TypeCodeableConcept
      Is Modifierfalse
      Must Supporttrue
      Summarytrue
      Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
      28. DocumentReference.category
      Definition

      A categorization for the type of document referenced - helps for indexing and searching. This may be implied by or derived from the code specified in the DocumentReference.type.

      ShortCategorization of document
      Comments

      Key metadata element describing the the category or classification of the document. This is a broader perspective that groups similar documents based on how they would be used. This is a primary key used in searching.

      Control1..*
      BindingFor example codes, see DocumentClassValueSet
      (example to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/document-classcodes)

      High-level kind of a clinical document at a macro level.

      TypeCodeableConcept
      Is Modifierfalse
      Must Supporttrue
      Summarytrue
      Alternate Namesclaxs
      Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
      SlicingThis element introduces a set of slices on DocumentReference.category. The slices are unordered and Open, and can be differentiated using the following discriminators:
      • pattern @ $this
      • 30. DocumentReference.category:uscore
        Slice Nameuscore
        Definition

        A categorization for the type of document referenced - helps for indexing and searching. This may be implied by or derived from the code specified in the DocumentReference.type.

        Short𝗔𝗗𝗗𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗨𝗦𝗖𝗗𝗜: Categorization of document
        Comments

        Key metadata element describing the the category or classification of the document. This is a broader perspective that groups similar documents based on how they would be used. This is a primary key used in searching.

        Control0..*
        BindingThe codes SHALL be taken from US Core DocumentReference Category
        (required to http://hl7.org/fhir/us/core/ValueSet/us-core-documentreference-category)

        The US Core DocumentReferences Type Value Set is a "starter set" of categories supported for fetching and storing clinical notes. Note that other codes are permitted, see Required Bindings When Slicing by Value Sets

        TypeCodeableConcept
        Is Modifierfalse
        Summarytrue
        Alternate Namesclaxs
        Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
        32. DocumentReference.subject
        Definition

        Who or what the document is about. The document can be about a person, (patient or healthcare practitioner), a device (e.g. a machine) or even a group of subjects (such as a document about a herd of farm animals, or a set of patients that share a common exposure).

        ShortWho/what is the subject of the document
        Control1..1
        TypeReference(US Core Patient Profile, Practitioner, Group, Device)
        Is Modifierfalse
        Must Supporttrue
        Must Support TypesReference(US Core Patient Profile)
        Summarytrue
        Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
        34. DocumentReference.date
        Definition

        When the document reference was created.

        ShortWhen this document reference was created
        Comments

        Referencing/indexing time is used for tracking, organizing versions and searching.

        Control0..1
        Typeinstant
        Is Modifierfalse
        Primitive ValueThis primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
        Must Supporttrue
        Summarytrue
        Alternate Namesindexed
        Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
        36. DocumentReference.author
        Definition

        Identifies who is responsible for adding the information to the document.

        ShortWho and/or what authored the document
        Comments

        Not necessarily who did the actual data entry (i.e. typist) or who was the source (informant).

        Control0..*
        TypeReference(US Core Practitioner Profile, US Core Organization Profile, US Core Patient Profile, US Core PractitionerRole Profile, US Core RelatedPerson Profile, Device)
        Is Modifierfalse
        Must Supporttrue
        Must Support TypesReference(US Core Practitioner Profile)
        Summarytrue
        Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
        38. DocumentReference.authenticator
        Definition

        Which person or organization authenticates that this document is valid.

        ShortWho/what authenticated the document
        Comments

        Represents a participant within the author institution who has legally authenticated or attested the document. Legal authentication implies that a document has been signed manually or electronically by the legal Authenticator.

        Control0..1
        TypeReference(Practitioner, PractitionerRole, Organization)
        Is Modifierfalse
        Summaryfalse
        Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
        40. DocumentReference.custodian
        Definition

        Identifies the organization or group who is responsible for ongoing maintenance of and access to the document.

        ShortOrganization which maintains the document
        Comments

        Identifies the logical organization (software system, vendor, or department) to go to find the current version, where to report issues, etc. This is different from the physical location (URL, disk drive, or server) of the document, which is the technical location of the document, which host may be delegated to the management of some other organization.

        Control0..1
        TypeReference(Organization)
        Is Modifierfalse
        Summaryfalse
        Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
        42. DocumentReference.relatesTo
        Definition

        Relationships that this document has with other document references that already exist.

        ShortRelationships to other documents
        Comments

        This element is labeled as a modifier because documents that append to other documents are incomplete on their own.

        Control0..*
        TypeBackboneElement
        Is Modifierfalse
        Summarytrue
        Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
        44. DocumentReference.relatesTo.id
        Definition

        Unique id for the element within a resource (for internal references). This may be any string value that does not contain spaces.

        ShortUnique id for inter-element referencing
        Control0..1
        Typestring
        Is Modifierfalse
        XML FormatIn the XML format, this property is represented as an attribute.
        Summaryfalse
        46. DocumentReference.relatesTo.extension
        Definition

        May be used to represent additional information that is not part of the basic definition of the element. To make the use of extensions safe and manageable, there is a strict set of governance applied to the definition and use of extensions. Though any implementer can define an extension, there is a set of requirements that SHALL be met as part of the definition of the extension.

        ShortAdditional content defined by implementations
        Comments

        There can be no stigma associated with the use of extensions by any application, project, or standard - regardless of the institution or jurisdiction that uses or defines the extensions. The use of extensions is what allows the FHIR specification to retain a core level of simplicity for everyone.

        Control0..*
        TypeExtension
        Is Modifierfalse
        Summaryfalse
        Alternate Namesextensions, user content
        Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
        ext-1: Must have either extensions or value[x], not both (extension.exists() != value.exists())
        48. DocumentReference.relatesTo.modifierExtension
        Definition

        May be used to represent additional information that is not part of the basic definition of the element and that modifies the understanding of the element in which it is contained and/or the understanding of the containing element's descendants. Usually modifier elements provide negation or qualification. To make the use of extensions safe and manageable, there is a strict set of governance applied to the definition and use of extensions. Though any implementer can define an extension, there is a set of requirements that SHALL be met as part of the definition of the extension. Applications processing a resource are required to check for modifier extensions.

        Modifier extensions SHALL NOT change the meaning of any elements on Resource or DomainResource (including cannot change the meaning of modifierExtension itself).

        ShortExtensions that cannot be ignored even if unrecognized
        Comments

        There can be no stigma associated with the use of extensions by any application, project, or standard - regardless of the institution or jurisdiction that uses or defines the extensions. The use of extensions is what allows the FHIR specification to retain a core level of simplicity for everyone.

        Control0..*
        TypeExtension
        Is Modifiertrue because Modifier extensions are expected to modify the meaning or interpretation of the element that contains them
        Summarytrue
        Requirements

        Modifier extensions allow for extensions that cannot be safely ignored to be clearly distinguished from the vast majority of extensions which can be safely ignored. This promotes interoperability by eliminating the need for implementers to prohibit the presence of extensions. For further information, see the definition of modifier extensions.

        Alternate Namesextensions, user content, modifiers
        Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
        ext-1: Must have either extensions or value[x], not both (extension.exists() != value.exists())
        50. DocumentReference.relatesTo.code
        Definition

        The type of relationship that this document has with anther document.

        Shortreplaces | transforms | signs | appends
        Comments

        If this document appends another document, then the document cannot be fully understood without also accessing the referenced document.

        Control1..1
        BindingThe codes SHALL be taken from DocumentRelationshipType
        (required to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/document-relationship-type|4.0.1)

        The type of relationship between documents.

        Typecode
        Is Modifierfalse
        Primitive ValueThis primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
        Summarytrue
        Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
        52. DocumentReference.relatesTo.target
        Definition

        The target document of this relationship.

        ShortTarget of the relationship
        Control1..1
        TypeReference(DocumentReference)
        Is Modifierfalse
        Summarytrue
        Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
        54. DocumentReference.description
        Definition

        Human-readable description of the source document.

        ShortHuman-readable description
        Comments

        What the document is about, a terse summary of the document.

        Control0..1
        Typestring
        Is Modifierfalse
        Primitive ValueThis primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
        Summarytrue
        Requirements

        Helps humans to assess whether the document is of interest.

        Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
        56. DocumentReference.securityLabel
        Definition

        A set of Security-Tag codes specifying the level of privacy/security of the Document. Note that DocumentReference.meta.security contains the security labels of the "reference" to the document, while DocumentReference.securityLabel contains a snapshot of the security labels on the document the reference refers to.

        ShortDocument security-tags
        Comments

        The confidentiality codes can carry multiple vocabulary items. HL7 has developed an understanding of security and privacy tags that might be desirable in a Document Sharing environment, called HL7 Healthcare Privacy and Security Classification System (HCS). The following specification is recommended but not mandated, as the vocabulary bindings are an administrative domain responsibility. The use of this method is up to the policy domain such as the XDS Affinity Domain or other Trust Domain where all parties including sender and recipients are trusted to appropriately tag and enforce.

        In the HL7 Healthcare Privacy and Security Classification (HCS) there are code systems specific to Confidentiality, Sensitivity, Integrity, and Handling Caveats. Some values would come from a local vocabulary as they are related to workflow roles and special projects.

        Control0..*
        BindingUnless not suitable, these codes SHALL be taken from All Security Labels
        (extensible to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/security-labels)

        Security Labels from the Healthcare Privacy and Security Classification System.

        TypeCodeableConcept
        Is Modifierfalse
        Summarytrue
        Requirements

        Use of the Health Care Privacy/Security Classification (HCS) system of security-tag use is recommended.

        Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
        58. DocumentReference.content
        Definition

        The document and format referenced. There may be multiple content element repetitions, each with a different format.

        ShortDocument referenced
        Control1..*
        TypeBackboneElement
        Is Modifierfalse
        Must Supporttrue
        Summarytrue
        Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
        60. DocumentReference.content.id
        Definition

        Unique id for the element within a resource (for internal references). This may be any string value that does not contain spaces.

        ShortUnique id for inter-element referencing
        Control0..1
        Typestring
        Is Modifierfalse
        XML FormatIn the XML format, this property is represented as an attribute.
        Summaryfalse
        62. DocumentReference.content.extension
        Definition

        May be used to represent additional information that is not part of the basic definition of the element. To make the use of extensions safe and manageable, there is a strict set of governance applied to the definition and use of extensions. Though any implementer can define an extension, there is a set of requirements that SHALL be met as part of the definition of the extension.

        ShortAdditional content defined by implementations
        Comments

        There can be no stigma associated with the use of extensions by any application, project, or standard - regardless of the institution or jurisdiction that uses or defines the extensions. The use of extensions is what allows the FHIR specification to retain a core level of simplicity for everyone.

        Control0..*
        TypeExtension
        Is Modifierfalse
        Summaryfalse
        Alternate Namesextensions, user content
        Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
        ext-1: Must have either extensions or value[x], not both (extension.exists() != value.exists())
        64. DocumentReference.content.modifierExtension
        Definition

        May be used to represent additional information that is not part of the basic definition of the element and that modifies the understanding of the element in which it is contained and/or the understanding of the containing element's descendants. Usually modifier elements provide negation or qualification. To make the use of extensions safe and manageable, there is a strict set of governance applied to the definition and use of extensions. Though any implementer can define an extension, there is a set of requirements that SHALL be met as part of the definition of the extension. Applications processing a resource are required to check for modifier extensions.

        Modifier extensions SHALL NOT change the meaning of any elements on Resource or DomainResource (including cannot change the meaning of modifierExtension itself).

        ShortExtensions that cannot be ignored even if unrecognized
        Comments

        There can be no stigma associated with the use of extensions by any application, project, or standard - regardless of the institution or jurisdiction that uses or defines the extensions. The use of extensions is what allows the FHIR specification to retain a core level of simplicity for everyone.

        Control0..*
        TypeExtension
        Is Modifiertrue because Modifier extensions are expected to modify the meaning or interpretation of the element that contains them
        Summarytrue
        Requirements

        Modifier extensions allow for extensions that cannot be safely ignored to be clearly distinguished from the vast majority of extensions which can be safely ignored. This promotes interoperability by eliminating the need for implementers to prohibit the presence of extensions. For further information, see the definition of modifier extensions.

        Alternate Namesextensions, user content, modifiers
        Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
        ext-1: Must have either extensions or value[x], not both (extension.exists() != value.exists())
        66. DocumentReference.content.attachment
        Definition

        The document and format referenced.

        ShortWhere to access the document
        Comments

        If there are multiple DocumentReference.content element repetitions, these SHALL all represent the same document in different format or attachment metadata. The content element SHALL NOT contain different versions of the same content. For version handling use multiple DocumentReferences with DocumentReference.relatesTo.

        Control1..1
        TypeAttachment
        Is Modifierfalse
        Must Supporttrue
        Summarytrue
        Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
        us-core-6: DocumentReference.content.attachment.url or DocumentReference.content.attachment.data or both SHALL be present. (url.exists() or data.exists())
        68. DocumentReference.content.attachment.id
        Definition

        Unique id for the element within a resource (for internal references). This may be any string value that does not contain spaces.

        ShortUnique id for inter-element referencing
        Control0..1
        Typestring
        Is Modifierfalse
        XML FormatIn the XML format, this property is represented as an attribute.
        Summaryfalse
        70. DocumentReference.content.attachment.extension
        Definition

        May be used to represent additional information that is not part of the basic definition of the element. To make the use of extensions safe and manageable, there is a strict set of governance applied to the definition and use of extensions. Though any implementer can define an extension, there is a set of requirements that SHALL be met as part of the definition of the extension.

        ShortAdditional content defined by implementations
        Comments

        There can be no stigma associated with the use of extensions by any application, project, or standard - regardless of the institution or jurisdiction that uses or defines the extensions. The use of extensions is what allows the FHIR specification to retain a core level of simplicity for everyone.

        Control0..*
        TypeExtension
        Is Modifierfalse
        Summaryfalse
        Alternate Namesextensions, user content
        Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
        ext-1: Must have either extensions or value[x], not both (extension.exists() != value.exists())
        SlicingThis element introduces a set of slices on DocumentReference.content.attachment.extension. The slices are unordered and Open, and can be differentiated using the following discriminators:
        • value @ url
        • 72. DocumentReference.content.attachment.contentType
          Definition

          Identifies the type of the data in the attachment and allows a method to be chosen to interpret or render the data. Includes mime type parameters such as charset where appropriate.

          ShortMime type of the content, with charset etc.
          Control0..1
          BindingThe codes SHALL be taken from Mime Types
          (required to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/mimetypes|4.0.1)

          The mime type of an attachment. Any valid mime type is allowed.

          Typecode
          Is Modifierfalse
          Primitive ValueThis primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
          Must Supporttrue
          Summarytrue
          Requirements

          Processors of the data need to be able to know how to interpret the data.

          Example<br/><b>General</b>:text/plain; charset=UTF-8, image/png
          Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
          74. DocumentReference.content.attachment.language
          Definition

          The human language of the content. The value can be any valid value according to BCP 47.

          ShortHuman language of the content (BCP-47)
          Control0..1
          BindingThe codes SHOULD be taken from CommonLanguages
          (preferred to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/languages)

          A human language.

          Additional BindingsPurpose
          AllLanguagesMax Binding
          Typecode
          Is Modifierfalse
          Primitive ValueThis primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
          Summarytrue
          Requirements

          Users need to be able to choose between the languages in a set of attachments.

          Example<br/><b>General</b>:en-AU
          Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
          76. DocumentReference.content.attachment.data
          Definition

          The actual data of the attachment - a sequence of bytes, base64 encoded.

          ShortData inline, base64ed
          Comments

          The base64-encoded data SHALL be expressed in the same character set as the base resource XML or JSON.

          Control0..1
          This element is affected by the following invariants: us-core-6
          Typebase64Binary
          Is Modifierfalse
          Primitive ValueThis primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
          Must Supporttrue
          Summaryfalse
          Requirements

          The data needs to able to be transmitted inline.

          Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
          78. DocumentReference.content.attachment.url
          Definition

          A location where the data can be accessed.

          ShortUri where the data can be found
          Comments

          If both data and url are provided, the url SHALL point to the same content as the data contains. Urls may be relative references or may reference transient locations such as a wrapping envelope using cid: though this has ramifications for using signatures. Relative URLs are interpreted relative to the service url, like a resource reference, rather than relative to the resource itself. If a URL is provided, it SHALL resolve to actual data.

          Control0..1
          This element is affected by the following invariants: us-core-6
          Typeurl
          Is Modifierfalse
          Primitive ValueThis primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
          Must Supporttrue
          Summarytrue
          Requirements

          The data needs to be transmitted by reference.

          Example<br/><b>General</b>:http://www.acme.com/logo-small.png
          Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
          80. DocumentReference.content.attachment.size
          Definition

          The number of bytes of data that make up this attachment (before base64 encoding, if that is done).

          ShortNumber of bytes of content (if url provided)
          Comments

          The number of bytes is redundant if the data is provided as a base64binary, but is useful if the data is provided as a url reference.

          Control0..1
          TypeunsignedInt
          Is Modifierfalse
          Primitive ValueThis primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
          Summarytrue
          Requirements

          Representing the size allows applications to determine whether they should fetch the content automatically in advance, or refuse to fetch it at all.

          Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
          82. DocumentReference.content.attachment.hash
          Definition

          The calculated hash of the data using SHA-1. Represented using base64.

          ShortHash of the data (sha-1, base64ed)
          Comments

          The hash is calculated on the data prior to base64 encoding, if the data is based64 encoded. The hash is not intended to support digital signatures. Where protection against malicious threats a digital signature should be considered, see Provenance.signature for mechanism to protect a resource with a digital signature.

          Control0..1
          Typebase64Binary
          Is Modifierfalse
          Primitive ValueThis primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
          Summarytrue
          Requirements

          Included so that applications can verify that the contents of a location have not changed due to technical failures (e.g., storage rot, transport glitch, incorrect version).

          Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
          84. DocumentReference.content.attachment.title
          Definition

          A label or set of text to display in place of the data.

          ShortLabel to display in place of the data
          Control0..1
          Typestring
          Is Modifierfalse
          Primitive ValueThis primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
          Summarytrue
          Requirements

          Applications need a label to display to a human user in place of the actual data if the data cannot be rendered or perceived by the viewer.

          Example<br/><b>General</b>:Official Corporate Logo
          Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
          86. DocumentReference.content.attachment.creation
          Definition

          The date that the attachment was first created.

          ShortDate attachment was first created
          Control0..1
          TypedateTime
          Is Modifierfalse
          Primitive ValueThis primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
          Summarytrue
          Requirements

          This is often tracked as an integrity issue for use of the attachment.

          Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
          88. DocumentReference.content.format
          Definition

          An identifier of the document encoding, structure, and template that the document conforms to beyond the base format indicated in the mimeType.

          ShortFormat/content rules for the document
          Comments

          Note that while IHE mostly issues URNs for format types, not all documents can be identified by a URI.

          Control0..1
          BindingUnless not suitable, these codes SHALL be taken from DocumentReferenceFormatCodeSet
          (extensible to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/formatcodes)
          TypeCoding
          Is Modifierfalse
          Must Supporttrue
          Summarytrue
          Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
          90. DocumentReference.context
          Definition

          The clinical context in which the document was prepared.

          ShortClinical context of document
          Comments

          These values are primarily added to help with searching for interesting/relevant documents.

          Control0..1
          TypeBackboneElement
          Is Modifierfalse
          Must Supporttrue
          Summarytrue
          Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
          92. DocumentReference.context.id
          Definition

          Unique id for the element within a resource (for internal references). This may be any string value that does not contain spaces.

          ShortUnique id for inter-element referencing
          Control0..1
          Typestring
          Is Modifierfalse
          XML FormatIn the XML format, this property is represented as an attribute.
          Summaryfalse
          94. DocumentReference.context.extension
          Definition

          May be used to represent additional information that is not part of the basic definition of the element. To make the use of extensions safe and manageable, there is a strict set of governance applied to the definition and use of extensions. Though any implementer can define an extension, there is a set of requirements that SHALL be met as part of the definition of the extension.

          ShortAdditional content defined by implementations
          Comments

          There can be no stigma associated with the use of extensions by any application, project, or standard - regardless of the institution or jurisdiction that uses or defines the extensions. The use of extensions is what allows the FHIR specification to retain a core level of simplicity for everyone.

          Control0..*
          TypeExtension
          Is Modifierfalse
          Summaryfalse
          Alternate Namesextensions, user content
          Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
          ext-1: Must have either extensions or value[x], not both (extension.exists() != value.exists())
          96. DocumentReference.context.modifierExtension
          Definition

          May be used to represent additional information that is not part of the basic definition of the element and that modifies the understanding of the element in which it is contained and/or the understanding of the containing element's descendants. Usually modifier elements provide negation or qualification. To make the use of extensions safe and manageable, there is a strict set of governance applied to the definition and use of extensions. Though any implementer can define an extension, there is a set of requirements that SHALL be met as part of the definition of the extension. Applications processing a resource are required to check for modifier extensions.

          Modifier extensions SHALL NOT change the meaning of any elements on Resource or DomainResource (including cannot change the meaning of modifierExtension itself).

          ShortExtensions that cannot be ignored even if unrecognized
          Comments

          There can be no stigma associated with the use of extensions by any application, project, or standard - regardless of the institution or jurisdiction that uses or defines the extensions. The use of extensions is what allows the FHIR specification to retain a core level of simplicity for everyone.

          Control0..*
          TypeExtension
          Is Modifiertrue because Modifier extensions are expected to modify the meaning or interpretation of the element that contains them
          Summarytrue
          Requirements

          Modifier extensions allow for extensions that cannot be safely ignored to be clearly distinguished from the vast majority of extensions which can be safely ignored. This promotes interoperability by eliminating the need for implementers to prohibit the presence of extensions. For further information, see the definition of modifier extensions.

          Alternate Namesextensions, user content, modifiers
          Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
          ext-1: Must have either extensions or value[x], not both (extension.exists() != value.exists())
          98. DocumentReference.context.encounter
          Definition

          Describes the clinical encounter or type of care that the document content is associated with.

          ShortContext of the document content
          Control0..1
          TypeReference(US Core Encounter Profile)
          Is Modifierfalse
          Must Supporttrue
          Summaryfalse
          Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
          100. DocumentReference.context.event
          Definition

          This list of codes represents the main clinical acts, such as a colonoscopy or an appendectomy, being documented. In some cases, the event is inherent in the type Code, such as a "History and Physical Report" in which the procedure being documented is necessarily a "History and Physical" act.

          ShortMain clinical acts documented
          Comments

          An event can further specialize the act inherent in the type, such as where it is simply "Procedure Report" and the procedure was a "colonoscopy". If one or more event codes are included, they shall not conflict with the values inherent in the class or type elements as such a conflict would create an ambiguous situation.

          Control0..*
          BindingFor example codes, see v3 Code System ActCode
          (example to http://terminology.hl7.org/ValueSet/v3-ActCode)

          This list of codes represents the main clinical acts being documented.

          TypeCodeableConcept
          Is Modifierfalse
          Summaryfalse
          Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
          102. DocumentReference.context.period
          Definition

          The time period over which the service that is described by the document was provided.

          ShortTime of service that is being documented
          Control0..1
          TypePeriod
          Is Modifierfalse
          Must Supporttrue
          Summarytrue
          Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
          104. DocumentReference.context.facilityType
          Definition

          The kind of facility where the patient was seen.

          ShortKind of facility where patient was seen
          Control0..1
          BindingFor example codes, see FacilityTypeCodeValueSet
          (example to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/c80-facilitycodes)

          XDS Facility Type.

          TypeCodeableConcept
          Is Modifierfalse
          Summaryfalse
          Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
          106. DocumentReference.context.practiceSetting
          Definition

          This property may convey specifics about the practice setting where the content was created, often reflecting the clinical specialty.

          ShortAdditional details about where the content was created (e.g. clinical specialty)
          Comments

          This element should be based on a coarse classification system for the class of specialty practice. Recommend the use of the classification system for Practice Setting, such as that described by the Subject Matter Domain in LOINC.

          Control0..1
          BindingFor example codes, see PracticeSettingCodeValueSet
          (example to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/c80-practice-codes)

          Additional details about where the content was created (e.g. clinical specialty).

          TypeCodeableConcept
          Is Modifierfalse
          Summaryfalse
          Requirements

          This is an important piece of metadata that providers often rely upon to quickly sort and/or filter out to find specific content.

          Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
          108. DocumentReference.context.sourcePatientInfo
          Definition

          The Patient Information as known when the document was published. May be a reference to a version specific, or contained.

          ShortPatient demographics from source
          Control0..1
          TypeReference(Patient)
          Is Modifierfalse
          Summaryfalse
          Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
          110. DocumentReference.context.related
          Definition

          Related identifiers or resources associated with the DocumentReference.

          ShortRelated identifiers or resources
          Comments

          May be identifiers or resources that caused the DocumentReference or referenced Document to be created.

          Control0..*
          TypeReference(Resource)
          Is Modifierfalse
          Summaryfalse
          Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))