Release 4B Snapshot #1

This page is part of the FHIR Specification v4.3.0-snapshot1: R4B Snapshot to support the Jan 2022 Connectathon. About the R4B version of FHIR. The current officially released version is 4.3.0. For a full list of available versions, see the Directory of published versions . Page versions: R5 R4B R4 R3

FHIR Infrastructure Maturity Level: 1Informative

Detailed Descriptions for the elements in the definition pattern.

Definition
Definition

A pattern to be followed by resources that represent a specific proposal, plan and/or order for some sort of action or service.

Cardinality0..*
TypeLogical
Definition.url
Definition

An absolute URL that is used to identify this {{title}} when it is referenced in a specification, model, design or an instance. This SHALL be a URL, SHOULD be globally unique, and SHOULD be an address at which this {{title}} is (or will be) published. The URL SHOULD include the major version of the {{title}}. For more information see Technical and Business Versions.

Cardinality0..1
Typeuri
Requirements

Allows the {{title}} to be referenced by a single globally unique identifier.

Summarytrue
Comments

Can be a urn:uuid: or a urn:oid:, but real http: addresses are preferred. This is the URI that will be used when making canonical references to this resource.

Definition.identifier
Definition

Business identifiers assigned to this {{title}} by the performer and/or other systems. These identifiers remain constant as the resource is updated and propagates from server to server.

NoteThis is a business identifier, not a resource identifier (see discussion)
Cardinality0..1
TypeIdentifier
Requirements

Allows identification of the {{title}} as it is known by various participating systems and in a way that remains consistent across servers.

Summarytrue
Comments

Note: This is a business identifier, not a resource identifier (see discussion). It is best practice for the identifier to only appear on a single resource instance, however business practices may occasionally dictate that multiple resource instances with the same identifier can exist - possibly even with different resource types. For example, multiple Patient and a Person resource instance might share the same social insurance number.

Definition.version
Definition

The identifier that is used to identify this version of the {{title}} when it is referenced in a specification, model, design or instance. This is an arbitrary value managed by the {{title}} author and is not expected to be globally unique. For example, it might be a timestamp (e.g. yyyymmdd) if a managed version is not available. There is also no expectation that versions are orderable.

NoteThis is a business versionId, not a resource version id (see discussion)
Cardinality0..1
Typestring
Summarytrue
Comments

There may be multiple different instances of a {{title}} that have the same identifier but different versions.

Definition.title
Definition

A short, descriptive, user-friendly title for the {{title}}.

Cardinality0..1
Typestring
Summarytrue
Definition.derivedFromCanonical
Definition

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

Cardinality0..*
Typecanonical(Definition[ActivityDefinition, EventDefinition, EvidenceVariable, Measure, OperationDefinition, PlanDefinition, Questionnaire, ResearchDefinition, ResearchElementDefinition, SubscriptionTopic])
Requirements

Protocols and order sets may be refinements of more generic protocols and order sets.

Summarytrue
Definition.derivedFromUri
Definition

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

Cardinality0..*
Typeuri
Requirements

Protocols and order sets may be refinements of more generic protocols and order sets.

Summarytrue
Comments

This might be an HTML page, PDF, etc. or could just be a non-resolvable URI identifier.

Definition.partOf
Definition

A larger definition of which this particular definition is a component or step.

Cardinality0..*
Typecanonical(Definition[ActivityDefinition, EventDefinition, EvidenceVariable, Measure, OperationDefinition, PlanDefinition, Questionnaire, ResearchDefinition, ResearchElementDefinition, SubscriptionTopic])
Requirements

E.g. Drug administration as part of a procedure, procedure as part of observation, etc.

Alternate Namescontainer
Summarytrue
Comments

[The allowed reference resources may be adjusted as appropriate for the event resource].

Definition.replaces
Definition

Completed or terminated request(s) whose function is taken by this new request.

Cardinality0..*
Typecanonical(Definition[ActivityDefinition, EventDefinition, EvidenceVariable, Measure, OperationDefinition, PlanDefinition, Questionnaire, ResearchDefinition, ResearchElementDefinition, SubscriptionTopic])
Requirements

As new versions of a protocol or guideline are defined, allows identification of what versions are replaced by a new instance.

Alternate Namessupersedes; prior; renewed order
Summarytrue
Definition.status
Definition

The current state of the {{title}}.

Cardinality1..1
Terminology BindingPublicationStatus (Required)
Typecode
Is Modifiertrue (Reason: This is labeled as "Is Modifier" because applications should not use a retired {{title}} without due consideration)
Summarytrue
Comments

A nominal state-transition diagram can be found in the [[definition.html#statemachine | Definition pattern]] documentation

Unknown does not represent "other" - one of the defined statuses must apply. Unknown is used when the authoring system is not sure what the current status is.

To DoShould this be a common code system for all definitions?
Definition.experimental
Definition

A flag to indicate that this {{title}} is authored for testing purposes (or education/evaluation/marketing), and is not intended to be used for genuine usage.

Cardinality0..1
Typeboolean
Is Modifiertrue (Reason: This is labeled as "Is Modifier" because applications should not use an experimental {{title}} in production.)
Requirements

Enables experimental content to be developed following the same life-cycle as a production-level {{title}} would.

Summarytrue
Comments

Allows filtering of {{title}} that are appropriate for use vs. not.

Definition.subject[x]
Definition

A code or group definition that describes the intended subject of instantiations of this definition.

Cardinality0..1
Terminology BindingDefinitionSubject:
TypeCodeableConcept|Reference(Group)
[x] NoteSee Choice of Data Types for further information about how to use [x]
Requirements

Many protocols, order sets and guidelines are inted for use only with specific types of patients or subjects.

Alternate NamesSubject type
Summarytrue
Definition.date
Definition

For draft definitions, indicates the date of initial creation. For active definitions, represents the date of activation. For withdrawn definitions, indicates the date of withdrawal.

Cardinality0..1
TypedateTime
Alternate Namescreated
Summarytrue
Definition.publisher
Definition

Helps establish the "authority/credibility" of the {{title}}. May also allow for contact.

Cardinality0..1
TypeReference(Practitioner | PractitionerRole | Organization)
Requirements

Usually an organization, but may be an individual. The publisher (or steward) of the {{title}} is the organization or individual primarily responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the {{title}}. This is not necessarily the same individual or organization that developed and initially authored the content. The publisher is the primary point of contact for questions or issues with the {{title}}. This item SHOULD be populated unless the information is available from context.

Alternate Namesauthor
Summarytrue
Definition.contact
Definition

Contact details to assist a user in finding and communicating with the publisher.

Cardinality0..*
TypeContactDetail
Summarytrue
Comments

May be a web site, an email address, a telephone number, etc.

Definition.description
Definition

A free text natural language description of the {{title}} from the consumer's perspective.

Cardinality0..1
Typemarkdown
Comments

This description can be used to capture details such as why the {{title}} was built, comments about misuse, instructions for clinical use and interpretation, literature references, examples from the paper world, etc. It is not a rendering of the module as conveyed in the text field of the resource itself. This item SHOULD be populated unless the information is available from context.

Definition.useContext
Definition

The content was developed with a focus and intent of supporting the contexts that are listed. These terms may be used to assist with indexing and searching of code system definitions.

Cardinality0..*
TypeUsageContext
Requirements

Assist in searching for appropriate content.

Summarytrue
Comments

When multiple usageContexts are specified, there is no expectation for whether all or any of the contexts apply.

Definition.jurisdiction
Definition

A jurisdiction in which the {{title}} is intended to be used.

Cardinality0..*
Terminology BindingJurisdiction (Extensible)
TypeCodeableConcept
Summarytrue
Definition.purpose
Definition

Explains why this {{title}} is needed and why it has been designed as it has.

Cardinality0..1
Typemarkdown
Comments

This element does not describe the usage of the {{title}}. Rather it is for traceability of ''why'' the resource is either needed or ''why'' it is defined as it is. This may be used to point to source materials or specifications that drove the structure of this {{title}}.

Definition.copyright
Definition

A copyright statement relating to the {{title}} and/or its contents. Copyright statements are generally legal restrictions on the use and publishing of the {{title}}.

Cardinality0..1
Typemarkdown
Requirements

Consumers of the {{title}} must be able to determine any legal restrictions on the use of the artifact and/or its content.

Alternate NamesLicense; Restrictions
Definition.approvalDate
Definition

The date on which the asset content was approved by the publisher. Approval happens once when the content is officially approved for usage.

Cardinality0..1
Typedate
Comments

The date may be more recent than the approval date because of minor changes / editorial corrections.

Definition.lastReviewDate
Definition

The date on which the asset content was last reviewed. Review happens periodically after that, but doesn't change the original approval date.

Cardinality0..1
Typedate
Comments

If specified, this is usually after the approval date.

Definition.effectivePeriod
Definition

The period during which the {{title}} content was or is planned to be effective.

Cardinality0..1
TypePeriod
Summarytrue
Comments

The effective period for a {{title}} determines when the content is applicable for usage and is independent of publication and review dates. For example, a measure intended to be used for the year 2016 would be published in 2015.

Definition.performerType
Definition

The type of individual that is expected to act upon instances of this definition.

Cardinality0..1
Terminology BindingPerformerType:
TypeCodeableConcept
Summarytrue
To DoNeed to define who.performer.