Introduction

This IG defines a set of types that are intended for use in clinical modeling, where they are used to describe the intent of an element in a conceptual model. These data types do not define properties, or value domains, or other aspects of how they work; they are purely concerned with intent, and not directly useable.

Instead of being used directly, these types are mapped to types in underlying implementation environments where informatics and engineering decisions around value domains, performance, and technical interoperability arise, and the use of these data types implies that these important decisions are delegated to subsequent processes.

Accordingly, then, structures that use these types are not intended to be directly implemented; instead, they are used where such details complicate/clutter getting to consensus with non-technical users. Such structures are sometimes called Domain Analysis Models, or Clinical Requirements Statements, or other things.

Datatypes Summary

DataType	Description	FHIR	openEHR	CDA	V2
DataValueType	Base Data type that is used to indicate that any data type is appropriate	DataType	DATA_VALUE	ANY	n/a
Basic Types
BooleanType	true & false	boolean	DV_BOOLEAN	BL	ID?
NumberType	All Numerical Values	integer, decimal, unsignedInt, positiveInt	DV_COUNT	INT, REAL	NM
DateTimeType	Date(+Time) + Timezone	date, dateTime, instant, time?	DV_DATE, DV_DATE_TIME, DV_TIME?	TS	DT, DTM, TM?
UrlType	Plain Web Reference (URL, URI, IRI)	uri, url, uuid, oid?	DV_URI	URI	n/a
ReferenceType	Points to independently managed data of some kind	Reference	DV_EHR_URI, OBJECT_REF?	n/a	HD?
StringType	Simple Text, no paragraphs or formatting	string	DV_TEXT??	ST	ST
TextType	Text with paragraphs and formatting	markdown, xhtml	DV_TEXT	ED?	TX?
AttachmentType	File or reference to a file, with metadata	Attachment	DV_MULTIMEDIA	ED	ED
CodeType	Simple Code from a defined set of codes	code, Coding	DV_CODED_TEXT	CS, CV	ID, IS
ConceptType	Complex Codes and/or Text, from one or more valueSets	CodeableConcept	DV_CODED_TEXT	CD, CE	CWE
IdentifierType	An assigned value that identifies someone/something	Identifier	DV_IDENTIFIER	II	CX, EI, XCN?
Quantity Related
QuantityType	Measured/Measurable - Number with Units	Quantity	DV_QUANTITY	PQ	SN
DurationType	A length of time, not fixed to a start or end	Duration	DV_DURATION	QTY	SN?
OrdinalType	A set of codes with an associated numeric value	Coding?	DV_ORDINAL, DV_SCALE	CO	n/a
RangeType	Quantity from low to high	Range	DV_INTERVAL<DV_QUANTITY>	IVL_PQ	SN
PeriodType	An interval of time from start to finish	Period	DV_INTERVAL<DV_DATE_TIME>	IVL_TS	DR
Special Case
TimingRulesType	Complex Rules about when something should be done	Timing	DV_GENERAL_TIME_SPECIFICATION	GTS	GTS
PersonNameType	A Person's name, with parts	HumanName	n/a	EN	XPN
PostalAddressType	A postal Address	Address	n/a	AD	XAD
ContactDetailsType	How to contact a person or organization	ContactPoint	n/a	TEL	XTN
SignatureType	Supports media and digital signatures	Signature	n/a	n/a	n/a

Using these Datatypes

To use these data types in another FHIR implementation guide:

• Add a dependency to this IG
• Create structures where the kind is 'logical'
• Set the type of the elements to the URL of the data type e.g. http://fhir.org/guides/fhir/base-clinical/StructureDefinition/BooleanType