SPL Mapping FHIR R5 Implementation Guide
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SPL Mapping FHIR R5 Implementation Guide, published by HL7 International / Biomedical Research and Regulation. This guide is not an authorized publication; it is the continuous build for version 0.2.5 built by the FHIR (HL7® FHIR® Standard) CI Build. This version is based on the current content of https://github.com/HL7/fhir-spl/ and changes regularly. See the Directory of published versions

Resource Profile: SPLDocumentReference - Detailed Descriptions

Page standards status: Trial-use Maturity Level: 1

Definitions for the SPLDocumentReference resource profile.

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. While the term “document” implies a more narrow focus, for this resource this "document" encompasses any serialized object with a mime-type, it includes formal patient-centric documents (CDA), clinical notes, scanned paper, non-patient specific documents like policy text, as well as a photo, video, or audio recording acquired or used in healthcare. The DocumentReference resource provides metadata about the document so that the document can be discovered and managed. The actual content may be inline base64 encoded data or provided by direct reference.

ShortA reference to a document
Comments

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

Control0..*
Is Modifierfalse
Must Supportfalse
Summaryfalse
InvariantsdocRef-1: facilityType SHALL only be present if context is not an encounter (facilityType.empty() or context.where(resolve() is Encounter).empty())
docRef-2: practiceSetting SHALL only be present if context is not present (practiceSetting.empty() or context.where(resolve() is Encounter).empty())
dom-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().ofType(canonical) | %resource.descendants().ofType(uri) | %resource.descendants().ofType(url))) or descendants().where(reference = '#').exists() or descendants().where(ofType(canonical) = '#').exists() or descendants().where(ofType(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 its 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 its meaning or interpretation
Primitive ValueThis primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
Must Supportfalse
Summarytrue
Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
4. DocumentReference.contained
Definition

These resources do not have an independent existence apart from the resource that contains them - they cannot be identified independently, nor can they have their own independent transaction scope. This is allowed to be a Parameters resource if and only if it is referenced by a resource that provides context/meaning.

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..*
This element is affected by the following invariants: dom-2, dom-4, dom-3, dom-5
TypeResource
Is Modifierfalse
Must Supportfalse
Summaryfalse
Alternate Namesinline resources, anonymous resources, contained resources
6. DocumentReference.extension
Definition

An Extension


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 managable, 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.

ShortExtensionAdditional 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
Must Supportfalse
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.extension. The slices areUnordered and Open, and can be differentiated using the following discriminators:
  • value @ url
  • 8. DocumentReference.extension:splDocumentDate
    Slice NamesplDocumentDate
    Definition

    Adding a SPL creation date to the document reference.

    ShortExtension
    Control0..1
    TypeExtension(SPLDocumentDate) (Extension Type: date)
    Is Modifierfalse
    Must Supporttrue
    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())
    10. 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 managable, 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
    Must Supportfalse
    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
    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())
    12. DocumentReference.identifier
    Definition

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

    ShortBusiness identifiers for the document
    Comments

    The structure and format of this identifier would be consistent with the specification corresponding to the format of the document. (e.g. for a DICOM standard document, a 64-character numeric UID; for an HL7 CDA format, the CDA Document Id root and extension).

    NoteThis is a business identifier, not a resource identifier (see discussion)
    Control10..*
    TypeIdentifier
    Is Modifierfalse
    Must Supporttrue
    Summarytrue
    Requirements

    Document identifiers usually assigned by the source of the document, or other business identifiers such as XDS DocumentEntry.uniqueId and DocumentEntry.entryUUID. These identifiers are specific to this instance of the document.

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

    An explicitly assigned identifer of a variation of the content in the DocumentReference.

    ShortAn explicitly assigned identifer of a variation of the content in the DocumentReference
    Comments

    While each resource, including the DocumentReference itself, has its own version identifier, this is a formal identifier for the logical version of the DocumentReference as a whole. It would remain constant if the resources were moved to a new server, and all got new individual resource versions, for example.

    NoteThis is a business version Id, not a resource version Id (see discussion)
    Control0..1
    Typestring
    Is Modifierfalse
    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()))
    16. 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|5.0.0
    (required to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/document-reference-status|5.0.0)

    The status of the document reference.

    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 Supportfalse
    Summarytrue
    Pattern Valuecurrent
    Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
    18. 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 SHOULD be taken from FHIRDocumentTypeCodeshttp://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/doc-typecodes
    (preferred to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/doc-typecodes)

    Precise type of clinical document.

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

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

    ShortContext of the document content
    Control0..*
    This element is affected by the following invariants: docRef-1, docRef-2
    TypeReference(Appointment, Encounter, EpisodeOfCare)
    Is Modifierfalse
    Must Supportfalse
    Summaryfalse
    Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
    22. 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.

    Control10..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()))
    24. DocumentReference.content
    Definition

    The document and format referenced. If there are multiple content element repetitions, these must all represent the same document in different format, or attachment metadata.

    ShortDocument referenced
    Comments

    content element shall not contain different versions of the same content. For version handling use multiple DocumentReference with .relatesTo.

    Control1..*
    TypeBackboneElement
    Is Modifierfalse
    Must Supporttrue
    Summarytrue
    Requirements

    Note that .relatesTo may also include references to other DocumentReference with a transforms relationship to represent the same document in multiple formats.

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

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

    ShortWhere to access the document
    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()))
    30. 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
    This element is affected by the following invariants: att-1
    BindingThe codes SHALL be taken from MimeTypeshttp://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/mimetypes|5.0.0
    (required to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/mimetypes|5.0.0)

    BCP 13 (RFCs 2045, 2046, 2047, 4288, 4289 and 2049)

    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()))
    32. 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.

    Control10..1
    This element is affected by the following invariants: att-1
    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()))