# Agency Common Components FHIR Implementation Guide

26.0.0 - Trial

Agency Common Components FHIR Implementation Guide, published by Australian Digital Health Agency. This guide is not an authorized publication; it is the continuous build for version 26.0.0 built by the FHIR (HL7® FHIR® Standard) CI Build. This version is based on the current content of https://github.com/AuDigitalHealth/CC/ and changes regularly. See the Directory of published versions

## Extension: Alternate_Name - Detailed Descriptions

Active as of 2026-06-16

Definitions for the alternate-name extension.

- Key Elements Table
- Differential Elements Table
- Snapshot Elements Table

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

0. Extension
Definition | A name by which a practitioner chooses to be known in the context of the delivery of a specific healthcare service. This may differ from their registered legal name. Optional Extension Element - found in all resources.
Short | Alternate name for practitioner in role contextOptional Extensions Element
Control | 0..* This element is affected by the following invariants: ele-1
Is Modifier | false
Invariants | ele-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()`) ele-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())
2. Extension.extension
Definition | An Extension 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.
Short | ExtensionAdditional 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.
Control | 0..0*
Type | Extension
Is Modifier | false
Summary | false
Alternate Names | extensions, user content
Invariants | ele-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()`) ele-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())
Slicing | This element introduces a set of slices on `Extension.extension`. The slices areUnordered and Open, and can be differentiated using the following discriminators: value @ url
4. Extension.url
Definition | Source of the definition for the extension code - a logical name or a URL.
Short | identifies the meaning of the extension
Comments | The definition may point directly to a computable or human-readable definition of the extensibility codes, or it may be a logical URI as declared in some other specification. The definition SHALL be a URI for the Structure Definition defining the extension.
Control | 1..1
Type | uri
Is Modifier | false
XML Format | In the XML format, this property is represented as an attribute.
Summary | false
Fixed Value | `http://digitalhealth.gov.au/fhir/cc/StructureDefinition/alternate-name`
6. Extension.value[x]
Definition | The alternate name by which the practitioner wishes to be known in this role context. Value of extension - must be one of a constrained set of the data types (see Extensibility for a list).
Short | Alternate nameValue of extension
Control | 10..1
Type | HumanName, date, Meta, Address, Attachment, integer, Count, DataRequirement, Dosage, uuid, Identifier, Coding, SampledData, id, positiveInt, Distance, Period, Duration, canonical, Range, RelatedArtifact, base64Binary, UsageContext, Timing, decimal, CodeableConcept, ParameterDefinition, dateTime, code, string, Contributor, oid, instant, ContactPoint, Money, markdown, Ratio, Age, Reference, TriggerDefinition, Quantity, uri, url, Annotation, ContactDetail, boolean, Expression, Signature, unsignedInt, time
[x] Note | SeeChoice of Data Typesfor further information about how to use [x]
Is Modifier | false
Summary | false
Invariants | ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (`hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())`) ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
8. Extension.value[x].use
Definition | Identifies the purpose for this name.
Short | Alternate name useusual | official | temp | nickname | anonymous | old | maiden
Comments | Applications can assume that a name is current unless it explicitly says that it is temporary or old.
Control | 0..1
Binding | The codes SHALL be taken from NameUse http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/name-use|4.0.1 (required to `http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/name-use|4.0.1` ) The use of a human name.
Type | code
Is Modifier | true because This is labeled as "Is Modifier" because applications should not mistake a temporary or old name etc.for a current/permanent one
Primitive Value | This primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
Must Support | true
Summary | true
Requirements | Allows the appropriate name for a particular context of use to be selected from among a set of names.
Invariants | ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (`hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())`) ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
10. Extension.value[x].family
Definition | The part of a name that links to the genealogy. In some cultures (e.g. Eritrea) the family name of a son is the first name of his father.
Short | Family name (often called 'Surname')
Comments | Family Name may be decomposed into specific parts using extensions (de, nl, es related cultures).
Control | 0..1
Type | string
Is Modifier | false
Primitive Value | This primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
Must Support | true
Summary | true
Alternate Names | surname
Invariants | ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (`hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())`) ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
12. Extension.value[x].given
Definition | Given name.
Short | Given names (not always 'first'). Includes middle names
Comments | If only initials are recorded, they may be used in place of the full name parts. Initials may be separated into multiple given names but often aren't due to paractical limitations. This element is not called "first name" since given names do not always come first.
Control | 0..*
Type | string
Is Modifier | false
Primitive Value | This primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
Must Support | true
Summary | true
Alternate Names | first name, middle name
Invariants | ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (`hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())`) ele-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 foundhere

0. Extension
Definition | A name by which a practitioner chooses to be known in the context of the delivery of a specific healthcare service. This may differ from their registered legal name.
Short | Alternate name for practitioner in role context
2. Extension.extension
Control | 0..0
4. Extension.url
Fixed Value | `http://digitalhealth.gov.au/fhir/cc/StructureDefinition/alternate-name`
6. Extension.value[x]
Definition | The alternate name by which the practitioner wishes to be known in this role context.
Short | Alternate name
Control | 1..?
Type | HumanName, date, Meta, Address, Attachment, integer, Count, DataRequirement, Dosage, uuid, Identifier, Coding, SampledData, id, positiveInt, Distance, Period, Duration, canonical, Range, RelatedArtifact, base64Binary, UsageContext, Timing, decimal, CodeableConcept, ParameterDefinition, dateTime, code, string, Contributor, oid, instant, ContactPoint, Money, markdown, Ratio, Age, Reference, TriggerDefinition, Quantity, uri, url, Annotation, ContactDetail, boolean, Expression, Signature, unsignedInt, time
[x] Note | SeeChoice of Data Typesfor further information about how to use [x]
8. Extension.value[x].use
Short | Alternate name use
Must Support | true
10. Extension.value[x].family
Must Support | true
12. Extension.value[x].given
Must Support | true

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

0. Extension
Definition | A name by which a practitioner chooses to be known in the context of the delivery of a specific healthcare service. This may differ from their registered legal name.
Short | Alternate name for practitioner in role context
Control | 0..* This element is affected by the following invariants: ele-1
Is Modifier | false
Invariants | ele-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()`)
2. Extension.id
Definition | Unique id for the element within a resource (for internal references). This may be any string value that does not contain spaces.
Short | Unique id for inter-element referencing
Control | 0..1
Type | string
Is Modifier | false
XML Format | In the XML format, this property is represented as an attribute.
Summary | false
4. Extension.extension
Definition | An Extension
Short | Extension
Control | 0..0
Type | Extension
Is Modifier | false
Summary | false
Invariants | ele-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()`)
Slicing | This element introduces a set of slices on `Extension.extension`. The slices areUnordered and Open, and can be differentiated using the following discriminators: value @ url
6. Extension.url
Definition | Source of the definition for the extension code - a logical name or a URL.
Short | identifies the meaning of the extension
Comments | The definition may point directly to a computable or human-readable definition of the extensibility codes, or it may be a logical URI as declared in some other specification. The definition SHALL be a URI for the Structure Definition defining the extension.
Control | 1..1
Type | uri
Is Modifier | false
XML Format | In the XML format, this property is represented as an attribute.
Summary | false
Fixed Value | `http://digitalhealth.gov.au/fhir/cc/StructureDefinition/alternate-name`
8. Extension.value[x]
Definition | The alternate name by which the practitioner wishes to be known in this role context.
Short | Alternate name
Control | 1..1
Type | HumanName
[x] Note | SeeChoice of Data Typesfor further information about how to use [x]
Is Modifier | false
Summary | false
Invariants | ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (`hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())`)
10. Extension.value[x].id
Definition | Unique id for the element within a resource (for internal references). This may be any string value that does not contain spaces.
Short | Unique id for inter-element referencing
Control | 0..1
Type | string
Is Modifier | false
XML Format | In the XML format, this property is represented as an attribute.
Summary | false
12. Extension.value[x].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.
Short | Additional 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.
Control | 0..*
Type | Extension
Is Modifier | false
Summary | false
Alternate Names | extensions, user content
Invariants | ele-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()`)
Slicing | This element introduces a set of slices on `Extension.value[x].extension`. The slices areUnordered and Open, and can be differentiated using the following discriminators: value @ url
14. Extension.value[x].use
Definition | Identifies the purpose for this name.
Short | Alternate name use
Comments | Applications can assume that a name is current unless it explicitly says that it is temporary or old.
Control | 0..1
Binding | The codes SHALL be taken from NameUse (required to `http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/name-use|4.0.1` ) The use of a human name.
Type | code
Is Modifier | true because This is labeled as "Is Modifier" because applications should not mistake a temporary or old name etc.for a current/permanent one
Primitive Value | This primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
Must Support | true
Summary | true
Requirements | Allows the appropriate name for a particular context of use to be selected from among a set of names.
Invariants | ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (`hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())`)
16. Extension.value[x].text
Definition | Specifies the entire name as it should be displayed e.g. on an application UI. This may be provided instead of or as well as the specific parts.
Short | Text representation of the full name
Comments | Can provide both a text representation and parts. Applications updating a name SHALL ensure that when both text and parts are present, no content is included in the text that isn't found in a part.
Control | 0..1
Type | string
Is Modifier | false
Primitive Value | This primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
Summary | true
Requirements | A renderable, unencoded form.
Invariants | ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (`hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())`)
18. Extension.value[x].family
Definition | The part of a name that links to the genealogy. In some cultures (e.g. Eritrea) the family name of a son is the first name of his father.
Short | Family name (often called 'Surname')
Comments | Family Name may be decomposed into specific parts using extensions (de, nl, es related cultures).
Control | 0..1
Type | string
Is Modifier | false
Primitive Value | This primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
Must Support | true
Summary | true
Alternate Names | surname
Invariants | ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (`hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())`)
20. Extension.value[x].given
Definition | Given name.
Short | Given names (not always 'first'). Includes middle names
Comments | If only initials are recorded, they may be used in place of the full name parts. Initials may be separated into multiple given names but often aren't due to paractical limitations. This element is not called "first name" since given names do not always come first.
Control | 0..*
Type | string
Is Modifier | false
Primitive Value | This primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
Must Support | true
Summary | true
Alternate Names | first name, middle name
Invariants | ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (`hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())`)
22. Extension.value[x].prefix
Definition | Part of the name that is acquired as a title due to academic, legal, employment or nobility status, etc. and that appears at the start of the name.
Short | Parts that come before the name
Control | 0..*
Type | string
Is Modifier | false
Primitive Value | This primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
Summary | true
Invariants | ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (`hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())`)
24. Extension.value[x].suffix
Definition | Part of the name that is acquired as a title due to academic, legal, employment or nobility status, etc. and that appears at the end of the name.
Short | Parts that come after the name
Control | 0..*
Type | string
Is Modifier | false
Primitive Value | This primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
Summary | true
Invariants | ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (`hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())`)
26. Extension.value[x].period
Definition | Indicates the period of time when this name was valid for the named person.
Short | Time period when name was/is in use
Control | 0..1
Type | Period
Is Modifier | false
Summary | true
Requirements | Allows names to be placed in historical context.
Invariants | ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (`hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())`)