A task to be performed.

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.

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

The base language in which the resource is written.

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).

IETF language tag for a human language

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

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.

An Extension

An Extension

The business identifier for this task.

The URL pointing to a FHIR-defined protocol, guideline, orderset or other definition that is adhered to in whole or in part by this Task.

Enables a formal definition of how the task is to be performed, enabling automation.

The URL pointing to an externally maintained protocol, guideline, orderset or other definition that is adhered to in whole or in part by this Task.

Enables a formal definition of how the task is to be performed (e.g. using BPMN, BPEL, XPDL or other formal notation to be associated with a task), enabling automation.

BasedOn refers to a higher-level authorization that triggered the creation of the task. It references a "request" resource such as a ServiceRequest, MedicationRequest, CarePlan, etc. which is distinct from the "request" resource the task is seeking to fulfill. This latter resource is referenced by focus. For example, based on a CarePlan (= basedOn), a task is created to fulfill a ServiceRequest ( = focus ) to collect a specimen from a patient.

Task.basedOn is never the same as Task.focus. Task.basedOn will typically not be present for 'please fulfill' Tasks as a distinct authorization is rarely needed to request fulfillment. If the Task is seeking fulfillment of an order, the order to be fulfilled is always communicated using focus, never basedOn. However, authorization may be needed to perform other types of Task actions. As an example of when both would be present, a Task seeking suspension of a prescription might have a Task.basedOn pointing to the ServiceRequest ordering surgery (which is the driver for suspending the MedicationRequest - which would be the Task.focus).

A shared identifier common to multiple independent Task and Request instances that were activated/authorized more or less simultaneously by a single author. The presence of the same identifier on each request ties those requests together and may have business ramifications in terms of reporting of results, billing, etc. E.g. a requisition number shared by a set of lab tests ordered together, or a prescription number shared by all meds ordered at one time.

Billing and/or reporting can be linked to whether multiple requests were created as a single unit.

Task that this particular task is part of.

This should usually be 0..1.

Allows tasks to be broken down into sub-steps (and this division can occur independent of the original task).

The current status of the task.

The current status of the task.

These states enable coordination of task status with off-the-shelf workflow solutions that support automation of tasks.

An explanation as to why this task is held, failed, was refused, etc.

This applies to the current status. Look at the history of the task to see reasons for past statuses.

Codes to identify the reason for current status. These will typically be specific to a particular workflow.

Contains business-specific nuances of the business state.

The domain-specific business-contextual sub-state of the task. For example: "Blood drawn", "IV inserted", "Awaiting physician signature", etc.

There's often a need to track substates of a task - this is often variable by specific workflow implementation.

Indicates the "level" of actionability associated with the Task, i.e. i+R[9]Cs this a proposed task, a planned task, an actionable task, etc.

This element is immutable. Proposed tasks, planned tasks, etc. must be distinct instances.

In most cases, Tasks will have an intent of "order".

Distinguishes whether the task is a proposal, plan or full order.

Indicates how quickly the Task should be addressed with respect to other requests.

The priority of a task (may affect service level applied to the task).

Used to identify the service level expected while performing a task.

If true indicates that the Task is asking for the specified action to not occur.

The attributes provided with the Task qualify what is not to be done. For example, if a requestedPeriod is provided, the 'do not' request only applies within the specified time. If a requestedPerformer is specified then the 'do not' request only applies to performers of that type. Qualifiers include: code, subject, occurrence, requestedPerformer and performer.

In some cases, the Request.code may pre-coordinate prohibition into the requested action. E.g. 'NPO' (nothing by mouth), 'DNR' (do not recussitate). If this happens, doNotPerform SHALL NOT be set to true. I.e. The resource shall not have double negation. (E.g. 'Do not DNR').

doNotPerform should ONLY be used with Tasks that are tightly bounded in time or process phase. E.g. 'Do not fulfill the midnight dose of medication X tonight due to the early morning scheduled procedure, where the nurse could reasonably check off 'Med X not given at midnight as instructed'. Similarly, a decision support proposal that a patient should not be given a standard intake questionnaire (because the patient is cognitively impaired) would be marked as 'complete' or 'rejected' when the clinician preps the CarePlan or order set after reviewing the decision support results. If there is a need to create a standing order to not do something that can't be satisfied by a single 'non-action', but rather an ongoing refusal to perform the function, MedicationRequest, ServiceRequest or some other form of authorization should be used.

A name or code (or both) briefly describing what the task involves.

The title (eg "My Tasks", "Outstanding Tasks for Patient X") should go into the code.

Codes to identify what the task involves. These will typically be specific to a particular workflow.

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

An Extension

A reference to a code defined by a terminology system.

Codes may be defined very casually in enumerations, or code lists, up to very formal definitions such as SNOMED CT - see the HL7 v3 Core Principles for more information. Ordering of codings is undefined and SHALL NOT be used to infer meaning. Generally, at most only one of the coding values will be labeled as UserSelected = true.

Allows for alternative encodings within a code system, and translations to other code systems.

A human language representation of the concept as seen/selected/uttered by the user who entered the data and/or which represents the intended meaning of the user.

Very often the text is the same as a displayName of one of the codings.

The codes from the terminologies do not always capture the correct meaning with all the nuances of the human using them, or sometimes there is no appropriate code at all. In these cases, the text is used to capture the full meaning of the source.

A free-text description of what is to be performed.

The request being fulfilled or the resource being manipulated (changed, suspended, etc.) by this task.

If multiple resources need to be manipulated, use sub-tasks. (This ensures that status can be tracked independently for each referenced resource.).

Used to identify the thing to be done.

The entity who benefits from the performance of the service specified in the task (e.g., the patient).

Used to track tasks outstanding for a beneficiary. Do not use to track the task owner or creator (see owner and creator respectively). This can also affect access control.

The healthcare event (e.g. a patient and healthcare provider interaction) during which this task was created.

For some tasks it may be important to know the link between the encounter the task originated within.

Indicates the start and/or end of the period of time when completion of the task is desired to take place.

This is typically used when the Task is not seeking fulfillment of a focus Request, as in that case the period would be specified on the Request and/or in the Task.restriction.period. Instead, it is used for stand-alone tasks.

Identifies the time action was first taken against the task (start) and/or the time final action was taken against the task prior to marking it as completed (end).

The date and time this task was created.

Most often used along with lastUpdated to track duration of task to supporting monitoring and management.

The date and time of last modification to this task.

Used along with history to track task activity and time in a particular task state. This enables monitoring and management.

The creator of the task.

Identifies who created this task. May be used by access control mechanisms (e.g., to ensure that only the creator can cancel a task).

The kind of participant or specific participant that should perform the task.

The type(s) of task performers allowed.

Use to distinguish tasks on different activity queues.

Party responsible for managing task execution.

Tasks may be created with an owner not yet identified.

Identifies who is expected to perform this task.

The entity who performed the requested task.

Principal physical location where this task is performed.

This should only be specified when the Task to be/being performed happens or is expected to happen primarily within the bounds of a single Location. Other locations (e.g. source, destination, etc.) would either be reflected on the 'basedOn' Request or be conveyed as distinct Task.input values.

Ties the event to where the records are likely kept and provides context around the event occurrence (e.g. if it occurred inside or outside a dedicated healthcare setting).

A description, code, or reference indicating why this task needs to be performed.

This will typically not be present for Tasks with a code of 'please fulfill' as, for those, the reason for action is conveyed on the Request pointed to by Task.focus. Some types of tasks will not need a 'reason'. E.g. a request to discharge a patient can be inferred to be 'because the patient is ready' and this would not need a reason to be stated on the Task.

Indicates why the task is needed. E.g. Suspended because patient admitted to hospital.

Insurance plans, coverage extensions, pre-authorizations and/or pre-determinations that may be relevant to the Task.

Free-text information captured about the task as it progresses.

Links to Provenance records for past versions of this Task that identify key state transitions or updates that are likely to be relevant to a user looking at the current version of the task.

This element does not point to the Provenance associated with the current version of the resource - as it would be created after this version existed. The Provenance for the current version can be retrieved with a _revinclude.

If the Task.focus is a request resource and the task is seeking fulfillment (i.e. is asking for the request to be actioned), this element identifies any limitations on what parts of the referenced request should be actioned.

Task.restriction can only be present if the Task is seeking fulfillment of another Request resource, and the restriction identifies what subset of the authorization conveyed by the request is supposed to be fulfilled by this Task. A possible example could be a standing order (the request) covering a significant time period and/or individuals, while the Task seeks fulfillment for only a subset of that time-period and a single individual.

Sometimes when fulfillment is sought, you don't want full fulfillment.

Additional information that may be needed in the execution of the task.

Resources and data used to perform the task. This data is used in the business logic of task execution, and is stored separately because it varies between workflows.

Outputs produced by the Task.

Resources and data produced during the execution the task. This data is generated by the business logic of task execution, and is stored separately because it varies between workflows.

A task to be performed.

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

Within the context of the FHIR RESTful interactions, the resource has an id except for cases like the create and conditional update. Otherwise, the use of the resouce id depends on the given use case.

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.

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

An Extension

The version specific identifier, as it appears in the version portion of the URL. This value changes when the resource is created, updated, or deleted.

The server assigns this value, and ignores what the client specifies, except in the case that the server is imposing version integrity on updates/deletes.

When the resource last changed - e.g. when the version changed.

This element is generally omitted in instances submitted in a PUT or POST. Instead, it is populated in the response instance and when retrieving information using a GET. The server / resource manager sets this value; what a client provides is irrelevant. This is equivalent to the HTTP Last-Modified and SHOULD have the same value on a read interaction.

A uri that identifies the source system of the resource. This provides a minimal amount of Provenance information that can be used to track or differentiate the source of information in the resource. The source may identify another FHIR server, document, message, database, etc.

The exact use of the source (and the possible implied Provenance.entity.role and agent.role) is left to implementer discretion. Only one nominated source is allowed; for additional provenance details, a full Provenance resource should be used. The source may correspond to Provenance.entity.what[x] or Provenance.agent.who[x], though it may be a more general or abstract reference.

This element can be used to indicate where the current master source of a resource that has a canonical URL if the resource is no longer hosted at the canonical URL.

A list of profiles (references to StructureDefinition resources) that this resource claims to conform to. The URL is a reference to StructureDefinition.url.

It is up to the server and/or other infrastructure of policy to determine whether/how these claims are verified and/or updated over time. The list of profile URLs is a set.

Security labels applied to this resource. These tags connect specific resources to the overall security policy and infrastructure.

The security labels can be updated without changing the stated version of the resource. The list of security labels is a set. Uniqueness is based the system/code, and version and display are ignored.

Security Labels from the Healthcare Privacy and Security Classification System.

Tags applied to this resource. Tags are intended to be used to identify and relate resources to process and workflow, and applications are not required to consider the tags when interpreting the meaning of a resource.

The tags can be updated without changing the stated version of the resource. The list of tags is a set. Uniqueness is based the system/code, and version and display are ignored.

Codes that represent various types of tags, commonly workflow-related; e.g. "Needs review by Dr. Jones".

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.

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

The base language in which the resource is written.

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).

IETF language tag for a human language

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.

Contained resources do not have a 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.

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

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.

An Extension

An Extension

The business identifier for this task.

The URL pointing to a FHIR-defined protocol, guideline, orderset or other definition that is adhered to in whole or in part by this Task.

Enables a formal definition of how the task is to be performed, enabling automation.

The URL pointing to an externally maintained protocol, guideline, orderset or other definition that is adhered to in whole or in part by this Task.

Enables a formal definition of how the task is to be performed (e.g. using BPMN, BPEL, XPDL or other formal notation to be associated with a task), enabling automation.

BasedOn refers to a higher-level authorization that triggered the creation of the task. It references a "request" resource such as a ServiceRequest, MedicationRequest, CarePlan, etc. which is distinct from the "request" resource the task is seeking to fulfill. This latter resource is referenced by focus. For example, based on a CarePlan (= basedOn), a task is created to fulfill a ServiceRequest ( = focus ) to collect a specimen from a patient.

Task.basedOn is never the same as Task.focus. Task.basedOn will typically not be present for 'please fulfill' Tasks as a distinct authorization is rarely needed to request fulfillment. If the Task is seeking fulfillment of an order, the order to be fulfilled is always communicated using focus, never basedOn. However, authorization may be needed to perform other types of Task actions. As an example of when both would be present, a Task seeking suspension of a prescription might have a Task.basedOn pointing to the ServiceRequest ordering surgery (which is the driver for suspending the MedicationRequest - which would be the Task.focus).

A shared identifier common to multiple independent Task and Request instances that were activated/authorized more or less simultaneously by a single author. The presence of the same identifier on each request ties those requests together and may have business ramifications in terms of reporting of results, billing, etc. E.g. a requisition number shared by a set of lab tests ordered together, or a prescription number shared by all meds ordered at one time.

Billing and/or reporting can be linked to whether multiple requests were created as a single unit.

Task that this particular task is part of.

This should usually be 0..1.

Allows tasks to be broken down into sub-steps (and this division can occur independent of the original task).

The current status of the task.

The current status of the task.

These states enable coordination of task status with off-the-shelf workflow solutions that support automation of tasks.

An explanation as to why this task is held, failed, was refused, etc.

This applies to the current status. Look at the history of the task to see reasons for past statuses.

Codes to identify the reason for current status. These will typically be specific to a particular workflow.

Contains business-specific nuances of the business state.

The domain-specific business-contextual sub-state of the task. For example: "Blood drawn", "IV inserted", "Awaiting physician signature", etc.

There's often a need to track substates of a task - this is often variable by specific workflow implementation.

Indicates the "level" of actionability associated with the Task, i.e. i+R[9]Cs this a proposed task, a planned task, an actionable task, etc.

This element is immutable. Proposed tasks, planned tasks, etc. must be distinct instances.

In most cases, Tasks will have an intent of "order".

Distinguishes whether the task is a proposal, plan or full order.

Indicates how quickly the Task should be addressed with respect to other requests.

The priority of a task (may affect service level applied to the task).

Used to identify the service level expected while performing a task.

If true indicates that the Task is asking for the specified action to not occur.

The attributes provided with the Task qualify what is not to be done. For example, if a requestedPeriod is provided, the 'do not' request only applies within the specified time. If a requestedPerformer is specified then the 'do not' request only applies to performers of that type. Qualifiers include: code, subject, occurrence, requestedPerformer and performer.

In some cases, the Request.code may pre-coordinate prohibition into the requested action. E.g. 'NPO' (nothing by mouth), 'DNR' (do not recussitate). If this happens, doNotPerform SHALL NOT be set to true. I.e. The resource shall not have double negation. (E.g. 'Do not DNR').

doNotPerform should ONLY be used with Tasks that are tightly bounded in time or process phase. E.g. 'Do not fulfill the midnight dose of medication X tonight due to the early morning scheduled procedure, where the nurse could reasonably check off 'Med X not given at midnight as instructed'. Similarly, a decision support proposal that a patient should not be given a standard intake questionnaire (because the patient is cognitively impaired) would be marked as 'complete' or 'rejected' when the clinician preps the CarePlan or order set after reviewing the decision support results. If there is a need to create a standing order to not do something that can't be satisfied by a single 'non-action', but rather an ongoing refusal to perform the function, MedicationRequest, ServiceRequest or some other form of authorization should be used.

A name or code (or both) briefly describing what the task involves.

The title (eg "My Tasks", "Outstanding Tasks for Patient X") should go into the code.

Codes to identify what the task involves. These will typically be specific to a particular workflow.

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

An Extension

A reference to a code defined by a terminology system.

Codes may be defined very casually in enumerations, or code lists, up to very formal definitions such as SNOMED CT - see the HL7 v3 Core Principles for more information. Ordering of codings is undefined and SHALL NOT be used to infer meaning. Generally, at most only one of the coding values will be labeled as UserSelected = true.

Allows for alternative encodings within a code system, and translations to other code systems.

A human language representation of the concept as seen/selected/uttered by the user who entered the data and/or which represents the intended meaning of the user.

Very often the text is the same as a displayName of one of the codings.

The codes from the terminologies do not always capture the correct meaning with all the nuances of the human using them, or sometimes there is no appropriate code at all. In these cases, the text is used to capture the full meaning of the source.

A free-text description of what is to be performed.

The request being fulfilled or the resource being manipulated (changed, suspended, etc.) by this task.

If multiple resources need to be manipulated, use sub-tasks. (This ensures that status can be tracked independently for each referenced resource.).

Used to identify the thing to be done.

The entity who benefits from the performance of the service specified in the task (e.g., the patient).

Used to track tasks outstanding for a beneficiary. Do not use to track the task owner or creator (see owner and creator respectively). This can also affect access control.

The healthcare event (e.g. a patient and healthcare provider interaction) during which this task was created.

For some tasks it may be important to know the link between the encounter the task originated within.

Indicates the start and/or end of the period of time when completion of the task is desired to take place.

This is typically used when the Task is not seeking fulfillment of a focus Request, as in that case the period would be specified on the Request and/or in the Task.restriction.period. Instead, it is used for stand-alone tasks.

Identifies the time action was first taken against the task (start) and/or the time final action was taken against the task prior to marking it as completed (end).

The date and time this task was created.

Most often used along with lastUpdated to track duration of task to supporting monitoring and management.

The date and time of last modification to this task.

Used along with history to track task activity and time in a particular task state. This enables monitoring and management.

The creator of the task.

Identifies who created this task. May be used by access control mechanisms (e.g., to ensure that only the creator can cancel a task).

The kind of participant or specific participant that should perform the task.

The type(s) of task performers allowed.

Use to distinguish tasks on different activity queues.

Party responsible for managing task execution.

Tasks may be created with an owner not yet identified.

Identifies who is expected to perform this task.

The entity who performed the requested task.

Principal physical location where this task is performed.

This should only be specified when the Task to be/being performed happens or is expected to happen primarily within the bounds of a single Location. Other locations (e.g. source, destination, etc.) would either be reflected on the 'basedOn' Request or be conveyed as distinct Task.input values.

Ties the event to where the records are likely kept and provides context around the event occurrence (e.g. if it occurred inside or outside a dedicated healthcare setting).

A description, code, or reference indicating why this task needs to be performed.

This will typically not be present for Tasks with a code of 'please fulfill' as, for those, the reason for action is conveyed on the Request pointed to by Task.focus. Some types of tasks will not need a 'reason'. E.g. a request to discharge a patient can be inferred to be 'because the patient is ready' and this would not need a reason to be stated on the Task.

Indicates why the task is needed. E.g. Suspended because patient admitted to hospital.

Insurance plans, coverage extensions, pre-authorizations and/or pre-determinations that may be relevant to the Task.

Free-text information captured about the task as it progresses.

Links to Provenance records for past versions of this Task that identify key state transitions or updates that are likely to be relevant to a user looking at the current version of the task.

This element does not point to the Provenance associated with the current version of the resource - as it would be created after this version existed. The Provenance for the current version can be retrieved with a _revinclude.

If the Task.focus is a request resource and the task is seeking fulfillment (i.e. is asking for the request to be actioned), this element identifies any limitations on what parts of the referenced request should be actioned.

Task.restriction can only be present if the Task is seeking fulfillment of another Request resource, and the restriction identifies what subset of the authorization conveyed by the request is supposed to be fulfilled by this Task. A possible example could be a standing order (the request) covering a significant time period and/or individuals, while the Task seeks fulfillment for only a subset of that time-period and a single individual.

Sometimes when fulfillment is sought, you don't want full fulfillment.

Additional information that may be needed in the execution of the task.

Resources and data used to perform the task. This data is used in the business logic of task execution, and is stored separately because it varies between workflows.

Outputs produced by the Task.

Resources and data produced during the execution the task. This data is generated by the business logic of task execution, and is stored separately because it varies between workflows.