Physical Activity Implementation Guide
1.0.1 - STU Release 1 United States of America flag

Physical Activity Implementation Guide, published by HL7 International / Patient Care. This guide is not an authorized publication; it is the continuous build for version 1.0.1 built by the FHIR (HL7® FHIR® Standard) CI Build. This version is based on the current content of https://github.com/HL7/physical-activity/ and changes regularly. See the Directory of published versions

Resource Profile: PAObservationActivityMeasure - Detailed Descriptions

Page standards status: Trial-use Maturity Level: 2

Definitions for the pa-observation-activity-measure resource profile.

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

0. Observation
Definition

A profile for observations that capture physical activity-related measures that are specific to a single physical activity.

2. Observation.code
BindingUnless not suitable, these codes SHALL be taken from PA Observation Activity-related codes
(extensible to http://hl7.org/fhir/us/physical-activity/ValueSet/pa-observation-code-activity)
4. Observation.effective[x]
Comments

...This will typically be a dateTime specific to the day. If the information is available, a Period can be used to indicate the specific start and end times.

TypeChoice of: dateTime, Period
[x] NoteSee Choice of Data Types for further information about how to use [x]
Primitive ValueThis primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
6. Observation.value[x]
Comments

...The value SHALL be constrained to the type and unit or ValueSet as indicated in the table

[x] NoteSee Choice of Data Types for further information about how to use [x]

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

0. Observation
Definition

A profile for observations that capture physical activity-related measures that are specific to a single physical activity.


Measurements and simple assertions made about a patient, device or other subject.

ShortMeasurements and simple assertions
Comments

Used for simple observations such as device measurements, laboratory atomic results, vital signs, height, weight, smoking status, comments, etc. Other resources are used to provide context for observations such as laboratory reports, etc.

Control0..*
Is Modifierfalse
Summaryfalse
Alternate NamesVital Signs, Measurement, Results, Tests
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())
obs-6: dataAbsentReason SHALL only be present if Observation.value[x] is not present (dataAbsentReason.empty() or value.empty())
obs-7: If Observation.code is the same as an Observation.component.code then the value element associated with the code SHALL NOT be present (value.empty() or component.code.where(coding.intersect(%resource.code.coding).exists()).empty())
obs-6: dataAbsentReason SHALL only be present if Observation.value[x] is not present (dataAbsentReason.empty() or value.empty())
obs-7: If Observation.code is the same as an Observation.component.code then the value element associated with the code SHALL NOT be present (value.empty() or component.code.where(coding.intersect(%resource.code.coding).exists()).empty())
2. Observation.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..01
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. Observation.modifierExtension
Definition

An Extension


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).

ShortExtensionExtensions 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..0*
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. Observation.status
Definition

The status of the result value.

Shortfinal | amended | corrected | entered-in-errorregistered | preliminary | final | amended +
Comments

In the vast majority of cases, the status value will be 'final'. Systems are not expected to distinguish amended and corrected results.


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

Control1..1
BindingThe codes SHALL be taken from ObservationStatushttp://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/observation-status|4.0.1
(required to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/observation-status)
Typecode
Is Modifiertrue because This element is labeled 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
Requirements

Need to track the status of individual results. Some results are finalized before the whole report is finalized.

Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
8. Observation.category
Definition

A code that classifies the general type of observation being made.

ShortClassification of type of observation
Comments

In addition to the required category valueset, this element allows various categorization schemes based on the owner’s definition of the category and effectively multiple categories can be used at once. The level of granularity is defined by the category concepts in the value set.

Control20..*
BindingThe codes SHOULD be taken from ObservationCategoryCodeshttp://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/observation-category
(preferred to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/observation-category)

Codes for high level observation categories.

TypeCodeableConcept
Is Modifierfalse
Summaryfalse
Requirements

Used for filtering what observations are retrieved and displayed.

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 Observation.category. The slices are unordered and Open, and can be differentiated using the following discriminators:
  • pattern @ $this
  • 10. Observation.category:Activity
    Slice NameActivity
    Definition

    Observations that measure or record any bodily activity that enhances or maintains physical fitness and overall health and wellness.


    A code that classifies the general type of observation being made.

    ShortActivity (Required for U.S. Core)Classification of type of observation
    Comments

    In addition to the required category valueset, this element allows various categorization schemes based on the owner’s definition of the category and effectively multiple categories can be used at once. The level of granularity is defined by the category concepts in the value set.

    Control10..1*
    BindingThe codes SHOULD be taken from ObservationCategoryCodeshttp://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/observation-category
    (preferred to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/observation-category)

    Codes for high level observation categories.

    TypeCodeableConcept
    Is Modifierfalse
    Must Supporttrue
    Summaryfalse
    Requirements

    Used for filtering what observations are retrieved and displayed.

    Pattern Value{
      "coding" : [{
        "system" : "http://terminology.hl7.org/CodeSystem/observation-category",
        "code" : "activity"
      }]
    }
    Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
    12. Observation.category:PhysicalActivity
    Slice NamePhysicalActivity
    Definition

    A code that classifies the general type of observation being made.

    ShortPhysical ActivityClassification of type of observation
    Comments

    Systems that are conformant to the IG are expected to have the ability to record, share, and search using the category. However, it's worth noting that it's not necessary for the category to be stored. Furthermore, systems might contain data related to physical activity that does not comply with this IG, and consequently, the data may not be accessible when executing searches by category.


    In addition to the required category valueset, this element allows various categorization schemes based on the owner’s definition of the category and effectively multiple categories can be used at once. The level of granularity is defined by the category concepts in the value set.

    Control10..1*
    BindingThe codes SHOULD be taken from ObservationCategoryCodeshttp://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/observation-category
    (preferred to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/observation-category)

    Codes for high level observation categories.

    TypeCodeableConcept
    Is Modifierfalse
    Must Supporttrue
    Summaryfalse
    Requirements

    Used for filtering what observations are retrieved and displayed.

    Pattern Value{
      "coding" : [{
        "system" : "http://hl7.org/fhir/us/physical-activity/CodeSystem/pa-temporary-codes",
        "code" : "PhysicalActivity"
      }]
    }
    Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
    14. Observation.code
    Definition

    Describes what was observed. Sometimes this is called the observation "name".

    ShortType of observation (code / type)
    Comments

    All code-value and, if present, component.code-component.value pairs need to be taken into account to correctly understand the meaning of the observation.

    Control1..1
    BindingUnless not suitable, these codes SHALL be taken from For example codes, see PA Observation Activity-related codeshttp://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/observation-codes
    (extensible to http://hl7.org/fhir/us/physical-activity/ValueSet/pa-observation-code-activity)
    TypeCodeableConcept
    Is Modifierfalse
    Must Supporttrue
    Summarytrue
    Requirements

    Knowing what kind of observation is being made is essential to understanding the observation.

    Alternate NamesName
    Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
    16. Observation.subject
    Definition

    The patient, or group of patients, location, or device this observation is about and into whose record the observation is placed. If the actual focus of the observation is different from the subject (or a sample of, part, or region of the subject), the focus element or the code itself specifies the actual focus of the observation.

    ShortWho and/or what the observation is about
    Comments

    One would expect this element to be a cardinality of 1..1. The only circumstance in which the subject can be missing is when the observation is made by a device that does not know the patient. In this case, the observation SHALL be matched to a patient through some context/channel matching technique, and at this point, the observation should be updated.

    Control10..1
    TypeReference(Reference - RESTful)(US Core Patient Profile, Patient, Group, Device, Location)
    Is Modifierfalse
    Must Supporttrue
    Summarytrue
    Requirements

    Observations have no value if you don't know who or what they're about.

    Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
    18. Observation.focus
    Definition

    The actual focus of an observation when it is not the patient of record representing something or someone associated with the patient such as a spouse, parent, fetus, or donor. For example, fetus observations in a mother's record. The focus of an observation could also be an existing condition, an intervention, the subject's diet, another observation of the subject, or a body structure such as tumor or implanted device. An example use case would be using the Observation resource to capture whether the mother is trained to change her child's tracheostomy tube. In this example, the child is the patient of record and the mother is the focus.

    ShortWhat the observation is about, when it is not about the subject of record
    Comments

    Typically, an observation is made about the subject - a patient, or group of patients, location, or device - and the distinction between the subject and what is directly measured for an observation is specified in the observation code itself ( e.g., "Blood Glucose") and does not need to be represented separately using this element. Use specimen if a reference to a specimen is required. If a code is required instead of a resource use either bodysite for bodysites or the standard extension focusCode.

    Control0..0*
    TypeReference(Resource)
    Is Modifierfalse
    Summarytrue
    Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
    20. Observation.effective[x]
    Definition

    The time or time-period the observed value is asserted as being true. For biological subjects - e.g. human patients - this is usually called the "physiologically relevant time". This is usually either the time of the procedure or of specimen collection, but very often the source of the date/time is not known, only the date/time itself.

    ShortClinically relevant time/time-period for observation
    Comments

    At least a date should be present unless this observation is a historical report. For recording imprecise or "fuzzy" times (For example, a blood glucose measurement taken "after breakfast") use the Timing datatype which allow the measurement to be tied to regular life events. This will typically be a dateTime specific to the day. If the information is available, a Period can be used to indicate the specific start and end times.


    At least a date should be present unless this observation is a historical report. For recording imprecise or "fuzzy" times (For example, a blood glucose measurement taken "after breakfast") use the Timing datatype which allow the measurement to be tied to regular life events.

    Control10..1
    TypeChoice of: dateTime, Period, Timing, instant
    [x] NoteSee Choice of Data Types for further information about how to use [x]
    Is Modifierfalse
    Primitive ValueThis primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
    Must Supporttrue
    Must Support TypesdateTime
    Summarytrue
    Requirements

    Knowing when an observation was deemed true is important to its relevance as well as determining trends.

    Alternate NamesOccurrence
    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 Observation.effective[x]. The slices are unordered and Closed, and can be differentiated using the following discriminators:
    • type @ $this
    • 22. Observation.effective[x]:effectiveDateTime
      Slice NameeffectiveDateTime
      Definition

      The time or time-period the observed value is asserted as being true. For biological subjects - e.g. human patients - this is usually called the "physiologically relevant time". This is usually either the time of the procedure or of specimen collection, but very often the source of the date/time is not known, only the date/time itself.

      ShortClinically relevant time/time-period for observation
      Comments

      At least a date should be present unless this observation is a historical report. For recording imprecise or "fuzzy" times (For example, a blood glucose measurement taken "after breakfast") use the Timing datatype which allow the measurement to be tied to regular life events.

      Control0..1
      TypedateTime, Period, Timing, instant
      [x] NoteSee Choice of Data Types for further information about how to use [x]
      Is Modifierfalse
      Primitive ValueThis primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
      Summarytrue
      Requirements

      Knowing when an observation was deemed true is important to its relevance as well as determining trends.

      Alternate NamesOccurrence
      Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
      24. Observation.effective[x]:effectivePeriod
      Slice NameeffectivePeriod
      Definition

      The time or time-period the observed value is asserted as being true. For biological subjects - e.g. human patients - this is usually called the "physiologically relevant time". This is usually either the time of the procedure or of specimen collection, but very often the source of the date/time is not known, only the date/time itself.

      ShortClinically relevant time/time-period for observation
      Comments

      At least a date should be present unless this observation is a historical report. For recording imprecise or "fuzzy" times (For example, a blood glucose measurement taken "after breakfast") use the Timing datatype which allow the measurement to be tied to regular life events.

      Control0..1
      TypePeriod, dateTime, Timing, instant
      [x] NoteSee Choice of Data Types for further information about how to use [x]
      Is Modifierfalse
      Summarytrue
      Requirements

      Knowing when an observation was deemed true is important to its relevance as well as determining trends.

      Alternate NamesOccurrence
      Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
      26. Observation.effective[x]:effectivePeriod.start
      Definition

      The start of the period. The boundary is inclusive.

      ShortStarting time with inclusive boundary
      Comments

      If the low element is missing, the meaning is that the low boundary is not known.

      Control10..1
      This element is affected by the following invariants: per-1
      TypedateTime
      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()))
      28. Observation.effective[x]:effectivePeriod.end
      Definition

      The end of the period. If the end of the period is missing, it means no end was known or planned at the time the instance was created. The start may be in the past, and the end date in the future, which means that period is expected/planned to end at that time.

      ShortEnd time with inclusive boundary, if not ongoing
      Comments

      The high value includes any matching date/time. i.e. 2012-02-03T10:00:00 is in a period that has an end value of 2012-02-03.

      Control10..1
      This element is affected by the following invariants: per-1
      TypedateTime
      Is Modifierfalse
      Primitive ValueThis primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
      Must Supporttrue
      Summarytrue
      Meaning if MissingIf the end of the period is missing, it means that the period is ongoing
      Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
      30. Observation.performer
      Definition

      Who was responsible for asserting the observed value as "true".

      ShortWho is responsible for the observation
      Control0..*
      TypeReference(Reference - RESTful or Logical)(US Core Patient Profile, US Core Practitioner Profile, US Core PractitionerRole Profile, RelatedPerson, Practitioner, PractitionerRole, Organization, CareTeam, Patient)
      Is Modifierfalse
      Must Supporttrue
      Must Support TypesReference(US Core Patient Profile, US Core Practitioner Profile)
      Summarytrue
      Requirements

      May give a degree of confidence in the observation and also indicates where follow-up questions should be directed.

      Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
      32. Observation.value[x]
      Definition

      The information determined as a result of making the observation, if the information has a simple value.

      ShortActual result
      Comments

      An observation may have; 1) a single value here, 2) both a value and a set of related or component values, or 3) only a set of related or component values. If a value is present, the datatype for this element should be determined by Observation.code. A CodeableConcept with just a text would be used instead of a string if the field was usually coded, or if the type associated with the Observation.code defines a coded value. For additional guidance, see the Notes section below. The value SHALL be constrained to the type and unit or ValueSet as indicated in the table


      An observation may have; 1) a single value here, 2) both a value and a set of related or component values, or 3) only a set of related or component values. If a value is present, the datatype for this element should be determined by Observation.code. A CodeableConcept with just a text would be used instead of a string if the field was usually coded, or if the type associated with the Observation.code defines a coded value. For additional guidance, see the Notes section below.

      Control0..1
      This element is affected by the following invariants: obs-7
      TypeChoice of: Quantity, CodeableConcept, dateTime, boolean, string, SampledData, Period, Ratio, integer, time, Range
      [x] NoteSee Choice of Data Types for further information about how to use [x]
      Is Modifierfalse
      Must Supporttrue
      Must Support TypesNo must-support rules about the choice of types/profiles
      Summarytrue
      Requirements

      An observation exists to have a value, though it might not if it is in error, or if it represents a group of observations.

      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 Observation.value[x]. The slices are unordered and Closed, and can be differentiated using the following discriminators:
      • type @ $this
      • 34. Observation.value[x]:valueCodeableConcept
        Slice NamevalueCodeableConcept
        Definition

        The information determined as a result of making the observation, if the information has a simple value.

        ShortActual result
        Comments

        An observation may have; 1) a single value here, 2) both a value and a set of related or component values, or 3) only a set of related or component values. If a value is present, the datatype for this element should be determined by Observation.code. A CodeableConcept with just a text would be used instead of a string if the field was usually coded, or if the type associated with the Observation.code defines a coded value. For additional guidance, see the Notes section below.

        Control0..1
        This element is affected by the following invariants: obs-7
        TypeCodeableConcept, dateTime, boolean, string, SampledData, Quantity, Period, Ratio, integer, time, Range
        [x] NoteSee Choice of Data Types for further information about how to use [x]
        Is Modifierfalse
        Summarytrue
        Requirements

        An observation exists to have a value, though it might not if it is in error, or if it represents a group of observations.

        Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
        36. Observation.value[x]:valueQuantity
        Slice NamevalueQuantity
        Definition

        The comparator is not used on a SimpleQuantity


        The information determined as a result of making the observation, if the information has a simple value.

        ShortA fixed quantity (no comparator)Actual result
        Comments

        The context of use may frequently define what kind of quantity this is and therefore what kind of units can be used. The context of use may also restrict the values for the comparator.


        An observation may have; 1) a single value here, 2) both a value and a set of related or component values, or 3) only a set of related or component values. If a value is present, the datatype for this element should be determined by Observation.code. A CodeableConcept with just a text would be used instead of a string if the field was usually coded, or if the type associated with the Observation.code defines a coded value. For additional guidance, see the Notes section below.

        Control0..1
        This element is affected by the following invariants: ele-1, obs-7
        TypeQuantity(SimpleQuantity), dateTime, boolean, string, SampledData, Period, Ratio, integer, time, Range, CodeableConcept
        [x] NoteSee Choice of Data Types for further information about how to use [x]
        Is Modifierfalse
        Requirements

        An observation exists to have a value, though it might not if it is in error, or if it represents a group of observations.

        Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
        qty-3: If a code for the unit is present, the system SHALL also be present (code.empty() or system.exists())
        sqty-1: The comparator is not used on a SimpleQuantity (comparator.empty())
        38. Observation.value[x]:valueQuantity.value
        Definition

        The value of the measured amount. The value includes an implicit precision in the presentation of the value.

        ShortNumerical value (with implicit precision)
        Comments

        The implicit precision in the value should always be honored. Monetary values have their own rules for handling precision (refer to standard accounting text books).

        Control10..1
        Typedecimal
        Is Modifierfalse
        Primitive ValueThis primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
        Must Supporttrue
        Summarytrue
        Requirements

        Precision is handled implicitly in almost all cases of measurement.

        Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
        40. Observation.value[x]:valueQuantity.comparator
        Definition

        Not allowed to be used in this context


        How the value should be understood and represented - whether the actual value is greater or less than the stated value due to measurement issues; e.g. if the comparator is "<" , then the real value is < stated value.

        Short< | <= | >= | > - how to understand the value
        Control0..01
        BindingThe codes SHALL be taken from QuantityComparatorhttp://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/quantity-comparator|4.0.1
        (required to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/quantity-comparator|4.0.1)

        How the Quantity should be understood and represented.

        Typecode
        Is Modifiertrue because This is labeled as "Is Modifier" because the comparator modifies the interpretation of the value significantly. If there is no comparator, then there is no modification of the value
        Primitive ValueThis primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
        Summarytrue
        Requirements

        Need a framework for handling measures where the value is <5ug/L or >400mg/L due to the limitations of measuring methodology.

        Meaning if MissingIf there is no comparator, then there is no modification of the value
        Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
        42. Observation.value[x]:valueQuantity.system
        Definition

        The identification of the system that provides the coded form of the unit.

        ShortSystem that defines coded unit form
        Control10..1
        This element is affected by the following invariants: qty-3
        Typeuri
        Is Modifierfalse
        Primitive ValueThis primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
        Summarytrue
        Requirements

        Need to know the system that defines the coded form of the unit.

        Pattern Valuehttp://unitsofmeasure.org
        Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
        44. Observation.value[x]:valueQuantity.code
        Definition

        A computer processable form of the unit in some unit representation system.

        ShortCoded form of the unit
        Comments

        The preferred system is UCUM, but SNOMED CT can also be used (for customary units) or ISO 4217 for currency. The context of use may additionally require a code from a particular system.

        Control10..1
        Typecode
        Is Modifierfalse
        Primitive ValueThis primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
        Must Supporttrue
        Summarytrue
        Requirements

        Need a computable form of the unit that is fixed across all forms. UCUM provides this for quantities, but SNOMED CT provides many units of interest.

        Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
        46. Observation.note
        Definition

        Comments about the observation or the results.

        ShortComments about the observation
        Comments

        May include general statements about the observation, or statements about significant, unexpected or unreliable results values, or information about its source when relevant to its interpretation. Comments allows supporting and qualifying information


        May include general statements about the observation, or statements about significant, unexpected or unreliable results values, or information about its source when relevant to its interpretation.

        Control0..*
        TypeAnnotation
        Is Modifierfalse
        Must Supporttrue
        Summaryfalse
        Requirements

        Need to be able to provide free text additional information.

        Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
        48. Observation.note.author[x]
        Definition

        The individual responsible for making the annotation.

        ShortIndividual responsible for the annotation
        Comments

        Organization is used when there's no need for specific attribution as to who made the comment.

        Control10..1
        TypeReference(Reference - RESTful or Logical)(Practitioner, Patient, RelatedPerson, Organization), string
        [x] NoteSee Choice of Data Types for further information about how to use [x]
        Is Modifierfalse
        Must Supporttrue
        Must Support TypesReference(Practitioner, Patient)
        Summarytrue
        Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
        50. Observation.note.time
        Definition

        Indicates when this particular annotation was made.

        ShortWhen the annotation was made
        Control10..1
        TypedateTime
        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()))
        52. Observation.note.text
        Definition

        The text of the annotation in markdown format.

        ShortThe annotation - text content (as markdown)
        Control1..1
        Typemarkdown
        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()))
        54. Observation.specimen
        Definition

        The specimen that was used when this observation was made.

        ShortSpecimen used for this observation
        Comments

        Should only be used if not implicit in code found in Observation.code. Observations are not made on specimens themselves; they are made on a subject, but in many cases by the means of a specimen. Note that although specimens are often involved, they are not always tracked and reported explicitly. Also note that observation resources may be used in contexts that track the specimen explicitly (e.g. Diagnostic Report).

        Control0..01
        TypeReference(Specimen)
        Is Modifierfalse
        Summaryfalse
        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. Observation
        Definition

        A profile for observations that capture physical activity-related measures that are specific to a single physical activity.

        ShortMeasurements and simple assertions
        Comments

        Used for simple observations such as device measurements, laboratory atomic results, vital signs, height, weight, smoking status, comments, etc. Other resources are used to provide context for observations such as laboratory reports, etc.

        Control0..*
        Is Modifierfalse
        Summaryfalse
        Alternate NamesVital Signs, Measurement, Results, Tests
        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())
        obs-6: dataAbsentReason SHALL only be present if Observation.value[x] is not present (dataAbsentReason.empty() or value.empty())
        obs-7: If Observation.code is the same as an Observation.component.code then the value element associated with the code SHALL NOT be present (value.empty() or component.code.where(coding.intersect(%resource.code.coding).exists()).empty())
        2. Observation.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. Observation.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. Observation.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..0
        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. Observation.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. Observation.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. Observation.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. Observation.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. Observation.modifierExtension
        Definition

        An Extension

        ShortExtension
        Control0..0
        TypeExtension
        Is Modifiertrue because Modifier extensions are expected to modify the meaning or interpretation of the resource that contains them
        Summaryfalse
        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. Observation.identifier
        Definition

        A unique identifier assigned to this observation.

        ShortBusiness Identifier for observation
        NoteThis is a business identifier, not a resource identifier (see discussion)
        Control0..*
        TypeIdentifier
        Is Modifierfalse
        Summarytrue
        Requirements

        Allows observations to be distinguished and referenced.

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

        A plan, proposal or order that is fulfilled in whole or in part by this event. For example, a MedicationRequest may require a patient to have laboratory test performed before it is dispensed.

        ShortFulfills plan, proposal or order
        Control0..*
        TypeReference(CarePlan, DeviceRequest, ImmunizationRecommendation, MedicationRequest, NutritionOrder, ServiceRequest)
        Is Modifierfalse
        Summarytrue
        Requirements

        Allows tracing of authorization for the event and tracking whether proposals/recommendations were acted upon.

        Alternate NamesFulfills
        Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
        22. Observation.partOf
        Definition

        A larger event of which this particular Observation is a component or step. For example, an observation as part of a procedure.

        ShortPart of referenced event
        Comments

        To link an Observation to an Encounter use encounter. See the Notes below for guidance on referencing another Observation.

        Control0..*
        TypeReference(MedicationAdministration, MedicationDispense, MedicationStatement, Procedure, Immunization, ImagingStudy)
        Is Modifierfalse
        Summarytrue
        Alternate NamesContainer
        Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
        24. Observation.status
        Definition

        The status of the result value.

        Shortfinal | amended | corrected | entered-in-error
        Comments

        In the vast majority of cases, the status value will be 'final'. Systems are not expected to distinguish amended and corrected results.

        Control1..1
        BindingThe codes SHALL be taken from ObservationStatus
        (required to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/observation-status)
        Typecode
        Is Modifiertrue because This element is labeled 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
        Requirements

        Need to track the status of individual results. Some results are finalized before the whole report is finalized.

        Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
        26. Observation.category
        Definition

        A code that classifies the general type of observation being made.

        ShortClassification of type of observation
        Comments

        In addition to the required category valueset, this element allows various categorization schemes based on the owner’s definition of the category and effectively multiple categories can be used at once. The level of granularity is defined by the category concepts in the value set.

        Control2..*
        BindingThe codes SHOULD be taken from ObservationCategoryCodes
        (preferred to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/observation-category)

        Codes for high level observation categories.

        TypeCodeableConcept
        Is Modifierfalse
        Summaryfalse
        Requirements

        Used for filtering what observations are retrieved and displayed.

        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 Observation.category. The slices are unordered and Open, and can be differentiated using the following discriminators:
        • pattern @ $this
        • 28. Observation.category:Activity
          Slice NameActivity
          Definition

          Observations that measure or record any bodily activity that enhances or maintains physical fitness and overall health and wellness.

          ShortActivity (Required for U.S. Core)
          Comments

          In addition to the required category valueset, this element allows various categorization schemes based on the owner’s definition of the category and effectively multiple categories can be used at once. The level of granularity is defined by the category concepts in the value set.

          Control1..1
          BindingThe codes SHOULD be taken from ObservationCategoryCodes
          (preferred to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/observation-category)

          Codes for high level observation categories.

          TypeCodeableConcept
          Is Modifierfalse
          Must Supporttrue
          Summaryfalse
          Requirements

          Used for filtering what observations are retrieved and displayed.

          Pattern Value{
            "coding" : [{
              "system" : "http://terminology.hl7.org/CodeSystem/observation-category",
              "code" : "activity"
            }]
          }
          Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
          30. Observation.category:PhysicalActivity
          Slice NamePhysicalActivity
          Definition

          A code that classifies the general type of observation being made.

          ShortPhysical Activity
          Comments

          Systems that are conformant to the IG are expected to have the ability to record, share, and search using the category. However, it's worth noting that it's not necessary for the category to be stored. Furthermore, systems might contain data related to physical activity that does not comply with this IG, and consequently, the data may not be accessible when executing searches by category.

          Control1..1
          BindingThe codes SHOULD be taken from ObservationCategoryCodes
          (preferred to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/observation-category)

          Codes for high level observation categories.

          TypeCodeableConcept
          Is Modifierfalse
          Must Supporttrue
          Summaryfalse
          Requirements

          Used for filtering what observations are retrieved and displayed.

          Pattern Value{
            "coding" : [{
              "system" : "http://hl7.org/fhir/us/physical-activity/CodeSystem/pa-temporary-codes",
              "code" : "PhysicalActivity"
            }]
          }
          Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
          32. Observation.code
          Definition

          Describes what was observed. Sometimes this is called the observation "name".

          ShortType of observation (code / type)
          Comments

          All code-value and, if present, component.code-component.value pairs need to be taken into account to correctly understand the meaning of the observation.

          Control1..1
          BindingUnless not suitable, these codes SHALL be taken from PA Observation Activity-related codes
          (extensible to http://hl7.org/fhir/us/physical-activity/ValueSet/pa-observation-code-activity)
          TypeCodeableConcept
          Is Modifierfalse
          Must Supporttrue
          Summarytrue
          Requirements

          Knowing what kind of observation is being made is essential to understanding the observation.

          Alternate NamesName
          Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
          34. Observation.subject
          Definition

          The patient, or group of patients, location, or device this observation is about and into whose record the observation is placed. If the actual focus of the observation is different from the subject (or a sample of, part, or region of the subject), the focus element or the code itself specifies the actual focus of the observation.

          ShortWho and/or what the observation is about
          Comments

          One would expect this element to be a cardinality of 1..1. The only circumstance in which the subject can be missing is when the observation is made by a device that does not know the patient. In this case, the observation SHALL be matched to a patient through some context/channel matching technique, and at this point, the observation should be updated.

          Control1..1
          TypeReference(Reference - RESTful)(US Core Patient Profile)
          Is Modifierfalse
          Must Supporttrue
          Summarytrue
          Requirements

          Observations have no value if you don't know who or what they're about.

          Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
          36. Observation.focus
          Definition

          The actual focus of an observation when it is not the patient of record representing something or someone associated with the patient such as a spouse, parent, fetus, or donor. For example, fetus observations in a mother's record. The focus of an observation could also be an existing condition, an intervention, the subject's diet, another observation of the subject, or a body structure such as tumor or implanted device. An example use case would be using the Observation resource to capture whether the mother is trained to change her child's tracheostomy tube. In this example, the child is the patient of record and the mother is the focus.

          ShortWhat the observation is about, when it is not about the subject of record
          Comments

          Typically, an observation is made about the subject - a patient, or group of patients, location, or device - and the distinction between the subject and what is directly measured for an observation is specified in the observation code itself ( e.g., "Blood Glucose") and does not need to be represented separately using this element. Use specimen if a reference to a specimen is required. If a code is required instead of a resource use either bodysite for bodysites or the standard extension focusCode.

          Control0..0
          TypeReference(Resource)
          Is Modifierfalse
          Summarytrue
          Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
          38. Observation.encounter
          Definition

          The healthcare event (e.g. a patient and healthcare provider interaction) during which this observation is made.

          ShortHealthcare event during which this observation is made
          Comments

          This will typically be the encounter the event occurred within, but some events may be initiated prior to or after the official completion of an encounter but still be tied to the context of the encounter (e.g. pre-admission laboratory tests).

          Control0..1
          TypeReference(Encounter)
          Is Modifierfalse
          Summarytrue
          Requirements

          For some observations it may be important to know the link between an observation and a particular encounter.

          Alternate NamesContext
          Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
          40. Observation.effective[x]
          Definition

          The time or time-period the observed value is asserted as being true. For biological subjects - e.g. human patients - this is usually called the "physiologically relevant time". This is usually either the time of the procedure or of specimen collection, but very often the source of the date/time is not known, only the date/time itself.

          ShortClinically relevant time/time-period for observation
          Comments

          At least a date should be present unless this observation is a historical report. For recording imprecise or "fuzzy" times (For example, a blood glucose measurement taken "after breakfast") use the Timing datatype which allow the measurement to be tied to regular life events. This will typically be a dateTime specific to the day. If the information is available, a Period can be used to indicate the specific start and end times.

          Control1..1
          TypeChoice of: dateTime, Period
          [x] NoteSee Choice of Data Types for further information about how to use [x]
          Is Modifierfalse
          Primitive ValueThis primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
          Must Supporttrue
          Must Support TypesdateTime
          Summarytrue
          Requirements

          Knowing when an observation was deemed true is important to its relevance as well as determining trends.

          Alternate NamesOccurrence
          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 Observation.effective[x]. The slices are unordered and Closed, and can be differentiated using the following discriminators:
          • type @ $this
          • 42. Observation.effective[x]:effectiveDateTime
            Slice NameeffectiveDateTime
            Definition

            The time or time-period the observed value is asserted as being true. For biological subjects - e.g. human patients - this is usually called the "physiologically relevant time". This is usually either the time of the procedure or of specimen collection, but very often the source of the date/time is not known, only the date/time itself.

            ShortClinically relevant time/time-period for observation
            Comments

            At least a date should be present unless this observation is a historical report. For recording imprecise or "fuzzy" times (For example, a blood glucose measurement taken "after breakfast") use the Timing datatype which allow the measurement to be tied to regular life events.

            Control0..1
            TypedateTime
            [x] NoteSee Choice of Data Types for further information about how to use [x]
            Is Modifierfalse
            Primitive ValueThis primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
            Summarytrue
            Requirements

            Knowing when an observation was deemed true is important to its relevance as well as determining trends.

            Alternate NamesOccurrence
            Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
            44. Observation.effective[x]:effectivePeriod
            Slice NameeffectivePeriod
            Definition

            The time or time-period the observed value is asserted as being true. For biological subjects - e.g. human patients - this is usually called the "physiologically relevant time". This is usually either the time of the procedure or of specimen collection, but very often the source of the date/time is not known, only the date/time itself.

            ShortClinically relevant time/time-period for observation
            Comments

            At least a date should be present unless this observation is a historical report. For recording imprecise or "fuzzy" times (For example, a blood glucose measurement taken "after breakfast") use the Timing datatype which allow the measurement to be tied to regular life events.

            Control0..1
            TypePeriod
            [x] NoteSee Choice of Data Types for further information about how to use [x]
            Is Modifierfalse
            Summarytrue
            Requirements

            Knowing when an observation was deemed true is important to its relevance as well as determining trends.

            Alternate NamesOccurrence
            Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
            46. Observation.effective[x]:effectivePeriod.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
            48. Observation.effective[x]:effectivePeriod.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 Observation.effective[x].extension. The slices are unordered and Open, and can be differentiated using the following discriminators:
            • value @ url
            • 50. Observation.effective[x]:effectivePeriod.start
              Definition

              The start of the period. The boundary is inclusive.

              ShortStarting time with inclusive boundary
              Comments

              If the low element is missing, the meaning is that the low boundary is not known.

              Control1..1
              This element is affected by the following invariants: per-1
              TypedateTime
              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()))
              52. Observation.effective[x]:effectivePeriod.end
              Definition

              The end of the period. If the end of the period is missing, it means no end was known or planned at the time the instance was created. The start may be in the past, and the end date in the future, which means that period is expected/planned to end at that time.

              ShortEnd time with inclusive boundary, if not ongoing
              Comments

              The high value includes any matching date/time. i.e. 2012-02-03T10:00:00 is in a period that has an end value of 2012-02-03.

              Control1..1
              This element is affected by the following invariants: per-1
              TypedateTime
              Is Modifierfalse
              Primitive ValueThis primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
              Must Supporttrue
              Summarytrue
              Meaning if MissingIf the end of the period is missing, it means that the period is ongoing
              Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
              54. Observation.issued
              Definition

              The date and time this version of the observation was made available to providers, typically after the results have been reviewed and verified.

              ShortDate/Time this version was made available
              Comments

              For Observations that don’t require review and verification, it may be the same as the lastUpdated time of the resource itself. For Observations that do require review and verification for certain updates, it might not be the same as the lastUpdated time of the resource itself due to a non-clinically significant update that doesn’t require the new version to be reviewed and verified again.

              Control0..1
              Typeinstant
              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()))
              56. Observation.performer
              Definition

              Who was responsible for asserting the observed value as "true".

              ShortWho is responsible for the observation
              Control0..*
              TypeReference(Reference - RESTful or Logical)(US Core Patient Profile, US Core Practitioner Profile, US Core PractitionerRole Profile, RelatedPerson)
              Is Modifierfalse
              Must Supporttrue
              Must Support TypesReference(US Core Patient Profile, US Core Practitioner Profile)
              Summarytrue
              Requirements

              May give a degree of confidence in the observation and also indicates where follow-up questions should be directed.

              Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
              58. Observation.value[x]
              Definition

              The information determined as a result of making the observation, if the information has a simple value.

              ShortActual result
              Comments

              An observation may have; 1) a single value here, 2) both a value and a set of related or component values, or 3) only a set of related or component values. If a value is present, the datatype for this element should be determined by Observation.code. A CodeableConcept with just a text would be used instead of a string if the field was usually coded, or if the type associated with the Observation.code defines a coded value. For additional guidance, see the Notes section below. The value SHALL be constrained to the type and unit or ValueSet as indicated in the table

              Control0..1
              This element is affected by the following invariants: obs-7
              TypeChoice of: Quantity, CodeableConcept
              [x] NoteSee Choice of Data Types for further information about how to use [x]
              Is Modifierfalse
              Must Supporttrue
              Must Support TypesNo must-support rules about the choice of types/profiles
              Summarytrue
              Requirements

              An observation exists to have a value, though it might not if it is in error, or if it represents a group of observations.

              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 Observation.value[x]. The slices are unordered and Closed, and can be differentiated using the following discriminators:
              • type @ $this
              • 60. Observation.value[x]:valueCodeableConcept
                Slice NamevalueCodeableConcept
                Definition

                The information determined as a result of making the observation, if the information has a simple value.

                ShortActual result
                Comments

                An observation may have; 1) a single value here, 2) both a value and a set of related or component values, or 3) only a set of related or component values. If a value is present, the datatype for this element should be determined by Observation.code. A CodeableConcept with just a text would be used instead of a string if the field was usually coded, or if the type associated with the Observation.code defines a coded value. For additional guidance, see the Notes section below.

                Control0..1
                This element is affected by the following invariants: obs-7
                TypeCodeableConcept
                [x] NoteSee Choice of Data Types for further information about how to use [x]
                Is Modifierfalse
                Summarytrue
                Requirements

                An observation exists to have a value, though it might not if it is in error, or if it represents a group of observations.

                Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
                62. Observation.value[x]:valueQuantity
                Slice NamevalueQuantity
                Definition

                The comparator is not used on a SimpleQuantity

                ShortA fixed quantity (no comparator)
                Comments

                The context of use may frequently define what kind of quantity this is and therefore what kind of units can be used. The context of use may also restrict the values for the comparator.

                Control0..1
                This element is affected by the following invariants: ele-1
                TypeQuantity(SimpleQuantity)
                [x] NoteSee Choice of Data Types for further information about how to use [x]
                Is Modifierfalse
                Requirements

                An observation exists to have a value, though it might not if it is in error, or if it represents a group of observations.

                Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
                qty-3: If a code for the unit is present, the system SHALL also be present (code.empty() or system.exists())
                sqty-1: The comparator is not used on a SimpleQuantity (comparator.empty())
                64. Observation.value[x]:valueQuantity.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
                66. Observation.value[x]:valueQuantity.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 Observation.value[x].extension. The slices are unordered and Open, and can be differentiated using the following discriminators:
                • value @ url
                • 68. Observation.value[x]:valueQuantity.value
                  Definition

                  The value of the measured amount. The value includes an implicit precision in the presentation of the value.

                  ShortNumerical value (with implicit precision)
                  Comments

                  The implicit precision in the value should always be honored. Monetary values have their own rules for handling precision (refer to standard accounting text books).

                  Control1..1
                  Typedecimal
                  Is Modifierfalse
                  Primitive ValueThis primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
                  Must Supporttrue
                  Summarytrue
                  Requirements

                  Precision is handled implicitly in almost all cases of measurement.

                  Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
                  70. Observation.value[x]:valueQuantity.comparator
                  Definition

                  Not allowed to be used in this context

                  Short< | <= | >= | > - how to understand the value
                  Control0..0
                  BindingThe codes SHALL be taken from QuantityComparator
                  (required to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/quantity-comparator|4.0.1)

                  How the Quantity should be understood and represented.

                  Typecode
                  Is Modifiertrue because This is labeled as "Is Modifier" because the comparator modifies the interpretation of the value significantly. If there is no comparator, then there is no modification of the value
                  Primitive ValueThis primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
                  Summarytrue
                  Requirements

                  Need a framework for handling measures where the value is <5ug/L or >400mg/L due to the limitations of measuring methodology.

                  Meaning if MissingIf there is no comparator, then there is no modification of the value
                  Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
                  72. Observation.value[x]:valueQuantity.unit
                  Definition

                  A human-readable form of the unit.

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

                  There are many representations for units of measure and in many contexts, particular representations are fixed and required. I.e. mcg for micrograms.

                  Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
                  74. Observation.value[x]:valueQuantity.system
                  Definition

                  The identification of the system that provides the coded form of the unit.

                  ShortSystem that defines coded unit form
                  Control1..1
                  This element is affected by the following invariants: qty-3
                  Typeuri
                  Is Modifierfalse
                  Primitive ValueThis primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
                  Summarytrue
                  Requirements

                  Need to know the system that defines the coded form of the unit.

                  Pattern Valuehttp://unitsofmeasure.org
                  Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
                  76. Observation.value[x]:valueQuantity.code
                  Definition

                  A computer processable form of the unit in some unit representation system.

                  ShortCoded form of the unit
                  Comments

                  The preferred system is UCUM, but SNOMED CT can also be used (for customary units) or ISO 4217 for currency. The context of use may additionally require a code from a particular system.

                  Control1..1
                  Typecode
                  Is Modifierfalse
                  Primitive ValueThis primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
                  Must Supporttrue
                  Summarytrue
                  Requirements

                  Need a computable form of the unit that is fixed across all forms. UCUM provides this for quantities, but SNOMED CT provides many units of interest.

                  Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
                  78. Observation.dataAbsentReason
                  Definition

                  Provides a reason why the expected value in the element Observation.value[x] is missing.

                  ShortWhy the result is missing
                  Comments

                  Null or exceptional values can be represented two ways in FHIR Observations. One way is to simply include them in the value set and represent the exceptions in the value. For example, measurement values for a serology test could be "detected", "not detected", "inconclusive", or "specimen unsatisfactory".

                  The alternate way is to use the value element for actual observations and use the explicit dataAbsentReason element to record exceptional values. For example, the dataAbsentReason code "error" could be used when the measurement was not completed. Note that an observation may only be reported if there are values to report. For example differential cell counts values may be reported only when > 0. Because of these options, use-case agreements are required to interpret general observations for null or exceptional values.

                  Control0..1
                  This element is affected by the following invariants: obs-6
                  BindingUnless not suitable, these codes SHALL be taken from DataAbsentReason
                  (extensible to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/data-absent-reason)

                  Codes specifying why the result (Observation.value[x]) is missing.

                  TypeCodeableConcept
                  Is Modifierfalse
                  Summaryfalse
                  Requirements

                  For many results it is necessary to handle exceptional values in measurements.

                  Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
                  80. Observation.interpretation
                  Definition

                  A categorical assessment of an observation value. For example, high, low, normal.

                  ShortHigh, low, normal, etc.
                  Comments

                  Historically used for laboratory results (known as 'abnormal flag' ), its use extends to other use cases where coded interpretations are relevant. Often reported as one or more simple compact codes this element is often placed adjacent to the result value in reports and flow sheets to signal the meaning/normalcy status of the result.

                  Control0..*
                  BindingUnless not suitable, these codes SHALL be taken from ObservationInterpretationCodes
                  (extensible to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/observation-interpretation)

                  Codes identifying interpretations of observations.

                  TypeCodeableConcept
                  Is Modifierfalse
                  Summaryfalse
                  Requirements

                  For some results, particularly numeric results, an interpretation is necessary to fully understand the significance of a result.

                  Alternate NamesAbnormal Flag
                  Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
                  82. Observation.note
                  Definition

                  Comments about the observation or the results.

                  ShortComments about the observation
                  Comments

                  May include general statements about the observation, or statements about significant, unexpected or unreliable results values, or information about its source when relevant to its interpretation. Comments allows supporting and qualifying information

                  Control0..*
                  TypeAnnotation
                  Is Modifierfalse
                  Must Supporttrue
                  Summaryfalse
                  Requirements

                  Need to be able to provide free text additional information.

                  Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
                  84. Observation.note.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
                  86. Observation.note.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 Observation.note.extension. The slices are unordered and Open, and can be differentiated using the following discriminators:
                  • value @ url
                  • 88. Observation.note.author[x]
                    Definition

                    The individual responsible for making the annotation.

                    ShortIndividual responsible for the annotation
                    Comments

                    Organization is used when there's no need for specific attribution as to who made the comment.

                    Control1..1
                    TypeReference(Reference - RESTful or Logical)(Practitioner, Patient, RelatedPerson)
                    [x] NoteSee Choice of Data Types for further information about how to use [x]
                    Is Modifierfalse
                    Must Supporttrue
                    Must Support TypesReference(Practitioner, Patient)
                    Summarytrue
                    Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
                    90. Observation.note.time
                    Definition

                    Indicates when this particular annotation was made.

                    ShortWhen the annotation was made
                    Control1..1
                    TypedateTime
                    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()))
                    92. Observation.note.text
                    Definition

                    The text of the annotation in markdown format.

                    ShortThe annotation - text content (as markdown)
                    Control1..1
                    Typemarkdown
                    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()))
                    94. Observation.bodySite
                    Definition

                    Indicates the site on the subject's body where the observation was made (i.e. the target site).

                    ShortObserved body part
                    Comments

                    Only used if not implicit in code found in Observation.code. In many systems, this may be represented as a related observation instead of an inline component.

                    If the use case requires BodySite to be handled as a separate resource (e.g. to identify and track separately) then use the standard extension bodySite.

                    Control0..1
                    BindingFor example codes, see SNOMEDCTBodyStructures
                    (example to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/body-site)

                    Codes describing anatomical locations. May include laterality.

                    TypeCodeableConcept
                    Is Modifierfalse
                    Summaryfalse
                    Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
                    96. Observation.method
                    Definition

                    Indicates the mechanism used to perform the observation.

                    ShortHow it was done
                    Comments

                    Only used if not implicit in code for Observation.code.

                    Control0..1
                    BindingFor example codes, see ObservationMethods
                    (example to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/observation-methods)

                    Methods for simple observations.

                    TypeCodeableConcept
                    Is Modifierfalse
                    Summaryfalse
                    Requirements

                    In some cases, method can impact results and is thus used for determining whether results can be compared or determining significance of results.

                    Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
                    98. Observation.specimen
                    Definition

                    The specimen that was used when this observation was made.

                    ShortSpecimen used for this observation
                    Comments

                    Should only be used if not implicit in code found in Observation.code. Observations are not made on specimens themselves; they are made on a subject, but in many cases by the means of a specimen. Note that although specimens are often involved, they are not always tracked and reported explicitly. Also note that observation resources may be used in contexts that track the specimen explicitly (e.g. Diagnostic Report).

                    Control0..0
                    TypeReference(Specimen)
                    Is Modifierfalse
                    Summaryfalse
                    Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
                    100. Observation.device
                    Definition

                    The device used to generate the observation data.

                    Short(Measurement) Device
                    Comments

                    Note that this is not meant to represent a device involved in the transmission of the result, e.g., a gateway. Such devices may be documented using the Provenance resource where relevant.

                    Control0..1
                    TypeReference(Device, DeviceMetric)
                    Is Modifierfalse
                    Summaryfalse
                    Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
                    102. Observation.referenceRange
                    Definition

                    Guidance on how to interpret the value by comparison to a normal or recommended range. Multiple reference ranges are interpreted as an "OR". In other words, to represent two distinct target populations, two referenceRange elements would be used.

                    ShortProvides guide for interpretation
                    Comments

                    Most observations only have one generic reference range. Systems MAY choose to restrict to only supplying the relevant reference range based on knowledge about the patient (e.g., specific to the patient's age, gender, weight and other factors), but this might not be possible or appropriate. Whenever more than one reference range is supplied, the differences between them SHOULD be provided in the reference range and/or age properties.

                    Control0..*
                    TypeBackboneElement
                    Is Modifierfalse
                    Summaryfalse
                    Requirements

                    Knowing what values are considered "normal" can help evaluate the significance of a particular result. Need to be able to provide multiple reference ranges for different contexts.

                    Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
                    obs-3: Must have at least a low or a high or text (low.exists() or high.exists() or text.exists())
                    104. Observation.referenceRange.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
                    106. Observation.referenceRange.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())
                    108. Observation.referenceRange.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())
                    110. Observation.referenceRange.low
                    Definition

                    The value of the low bound of the reference range. The low bound of the reference range endpoint is inclusive of the value (e.g. reference range is >=5 - <=9). If the low bound is omitted, it is assumed to be meaningless (e.g. reference range is <=2.3).

                    ShortLow Range, if relevant
                    Control0..1
                    This element is affected by the following invariants: obs-3
                    TypeQuantity(SimpleQuantity)
                    Is Modifierfalse
                    Summaryfalse
                    Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
                    112. Observation.referenceRange.high
                    Definition

                    The value of the high bound of the reference range. The high bound of the reference range endpoint is inclusive of the value (e.g. reference range is >=5 - <=9). If the high bound is omitted, it is assumed to be meaningless (e.g. reference range is >= 2.3).

                    ShortHigh Range, if relevant
                    Control0..1
                    This element is affected by the following invariants: obs-3
                    TypeQuantity(SimpleQuantity)
                    Is Modifierfalse
                    Summaryfalse
                    Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
                    114. Observation.referenceRange.type
                    Definition

                    Codes to indicate the what part of the targeted reference population it applies to. For example, the normal or therapeutic range.

                    ShortReference range qualifier
                    Comments

                    This SHOULD be populated if there is more than one range. If this element is not present then the normal range is assumed.

                    Control0..1
                    BindingThe codes SHOULD be taken from ObservationReferenceRangeMeaningCodes
                    (preferred to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/referencerange-meaning)

                    Code for the meaning of a reference range.

                    TypeCodeableConcept
                    Is Modifierfalse
                    Summaryfalse
                    Requirements

                    Need to be able to say what kind of reference range this is - normal, recommended, therapeutic, etc., - for proper interpretation.

                    Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
                    116. Observation.referenceRange.appliesTo
                    Definition

                    Codes to indicate the target population this reference range applies to. For example, a reference range may be based on the normal population or a particular sex or race. Multiple appliesTo are interpreted as an "AND" of the target populations. For example, to represent a target population of African American females, both a code of female and a code for African American would be used.

                    ShortReference range population
                    Comments

                    This SHOULD be populated if there is more than one range. If this element is not present then the normal population is assumed.

                    Control0..*
                    BindingFor example codes, see ObservationReferenceRangeAppliesToCodes
                    (example to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/referencerange-appliesto)

                    Codes identifying the population the reference range applies to.

                    TypeCodeableConcept
                    Is Modifierfalse
                    Summaryfalse
                    Requirements

                    Need to be able to identify the target population for proper interpretation.

                    Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
                    118. Observation.referenceRange.age
                    Definition

                    The age at which this reference range is applicable. This is a neonatal age (e.g. number of weeks at term) if the meaning says so.

                    ShortApplicable age range, if relevant
                    Control0..1
                    TypeRange
                    Is Modifierfalse
                    Summaryfalse
                    Requirements

                    Some analytes vary greatly over age.

                    Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
                    120. Observation.referenceRange.text
                    Definition

                    Text based reference range in an observation which may be used when a quantitative range is not appropriate for an observation. An example would be a reference value of "Negative" or a list or table of "normals".

                    ShortText based reference range in an observation
                    Control0..1
                    Typestring
                    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()))
                    122. Observation.hasMember
                    Definition

                    This observation is a group observation (e.g. a battery, a panel of tests, a set of vital sign measurements) that includes the target as a member of the group.

                    ShortRelated resource that belongs to the Observation group
                    Comments

                    When using this element, an observation will typically have either a value or a set of related resources, although both may be present in some cases. For a discussion on the ways Observations can assembled in groups together, see Notes below. Note that a system may calculate results from QuestionnaireResponse into a final score and represent the score as an Observation.

                    Control0..*
                    TypeReference(Observation, QuestionnaireResponse, MolecularSequence)
                    Is Modifierfalse
                    Summarytrue
                    Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
                    124. Observation.derivedFrom
                    Definition

                    The target resource that represents a measurement from which this observation value is derived. For example, a calculated anion gap or a fetal measurement based on an ultrasound image.

                    ShortRelated measurements the observation is made from
                    Comments

                    All the reference choices that are listed in this element can represent clinical observations and other measurements that may be the source for a derived value. The most common reference will be another Observation. For a discussion on the ways Observations can assembled in groups together, see Notes below.

                    Control0..*
                    TypeReference(DocumentReference, ImagingStudy, Media, QuestionnaireResponse, Observation, MolecularSequence)
                    Is Modifierfalse
                    Summarytrue
                    Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
                    126. Observation.component
                    Definition

                    Some observations have multiple component observations. These component observations are expressed as separate code value pairs that share the same attributes. Examples include systolic and diastolic component observations for blood pressure measurement and multiple component observations for genetics observations.

                    ShortComponent results
                    Comments

                    For a discussion on the ways Observations can be assembled in groups together see Notes below.

                    Control0..*
                    TypeBackboneElement
                    Is Modifierfalse
                    Summarytrue
                    Requirements

                    Component observations share the same attributes in the Observation resource as the primary observation and are always treated a part of a single observation (they are not separable). However, the reference range for the primary observation value is not inherited by the component values and is required when appropriate for each component observation.

                    Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
                    128. Observation.component.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
                    130. Observation.component.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())
                    132. Observation.component.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())
                    134. Observation.component.code
                    Definition

                    Describes what was observed. Sometimes this is called the observation "code".

                    ShortType of component observation (code / type)
                    Comments

                    All code-value and component.code-component.value pairs need to be taken into account to correctly understand the meaning of the observation.

                    Control1..1
                    BindingFor example codes, see LOINCCodes
                    (example to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/observation-codes)

                    Codes identifying names of simple observations.

                    TypeCodeableConcept
                    Is Modifierfalse
                    Summarytrue
                    Requirements

                    Knowing what kind of observation is being made is essential to understanding the observation.

                    Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
                    136. Observation.component.value[x]
                    Definition

                    The information determined as a result of making the observation, if the information has a simple value.

                    ShortActual component result
                    Comments

                    Used when observation has a set of component observations. An observation may have both a value (e.g. an Apgar score) and component observations (the observations from which the Apgar score was derived). If a value is present, the datatype for this element should be determined by Observation.code. A CodeableConcept with just a text would be used instead of a string if the field was usually coded, or if the type associated with the Observation.code defines a coded value. For additional guidance, see the Notes section below.

                    Control0..1
                    TypeChoice of: Quantity, CodeableConcept, string, boolean, integer, Range, Ratio, SampledData, time, dateTime, Period
                    [x] NoteSee Choice of Data Types for further information about how to use [x]
                    Is Modifierfalse
                    Primitive ValueThis primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
                    Summarytrue
                    Requirements

                    An observation exists to have a value, though it might not if it is in error, or if it represents a group of observations.

                    Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
                    138. Observation.component.dataAbsentReason
                    Definition

                    Provides a reason why the expected value in the element Observation.component.value[x] is missing.

                    ShortWhy the component result is missing
                    Comments

                    "Null" or exceptional values can be represented two ways in FHIR Observations. One way is to simply include them in the value set and represent the exceptions in the value. For example, measurement values for a serology test could be "detected", "not detected", "inconclusive", or "test not done".

                    The alternate way is to use the value element for actual observations and use the explicit dataAbsentReason element to record exceptional values. For example, the dataAbsentReason code "error" could be used when the measurement was not completed. Because of these options, use-case agreements are required to interpret general observations for exceptional values.

                    Control0..1
                    This element is affected by the following invariants: obs-6
                    BindingUnless not suitable, these codes SHALL be taken from DataAbsentReason
                    (extensible to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/data-absent-reason)

                    Codes specifying why the result (Observation.value[x]) is missing.

                    TypeCodeableConcept
                    Is Modifierfalse
                    Summaryfalse
                    Requirements

                    For many results it is necessary to handle exceptional values in measurements.

                    Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
                    140. Observation.component.interpretation
                    Definition

                    A categorical assessment of an observation value. For example, high, low, normal.

                    ShortHigh, low, normal, etc.
                    Comments

                    Historically used for laboratory results (known as 'abnormal flag' ), its use extends to other use cases where coded interpretations are relevant. Often reported as one or more simple compact codes this element is often placed adjacent to the result value in reports and flow sheets to signal the meaning/normalcy status of the result.

                    Control0..*
                    BindingUnless not suitable, these codes SHALL be taken from ObservationInterpretationCodes
                    (extensible to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/observation-interpretation)

                    Codes identifying interpretations of observations.

                    TypeCodeableConcept
                    Is Modifierfalse
                    Summaryfalse
                    Requirements

                    For some results, particularly numeric results, an interpretation is necessary to fully understand the significance of a result.

                    Alternate NamesAbnormal Flag
                    Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
                    142. Observation.component.referenceRange
                    Definition

                    Guidance on how to interpret the value by comparison to a normal or recommended range.

                    ShortProvides guide for interpretation of component result
                    Comments

                    Most observations only have one generic reference range. Systems MAY choose to restrict to only supplying the relevant reference range based on knowledge about the patient (e.g., specific to the patient's age, gender, weight and other factors), but this might not be possible or appropriate. Whenever more than one reference range is supplied, the differences between them SHOULD be provided in the reference range and/or age properties.

                    Control0..*
                    TypeSee ttp://hl7.org/fhir/StructureDefinition/Observation#Observation.referenceRange
                    Is Modifierfalse
                    Summaryfalse
                    Requirements

                    Knowing what values are considered "normal" can help evaluate the significance of a particular result. Need to be able to provide multiple reference ranges for different contexts.

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