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: 1 | Informative |
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. |
Cardinality | 0..* |
Type | Logical |
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. |
Cardinality | 0..1 |
Type | uri |
Requirements | Allows the {{title}} to be referenced by a single globally unique identifier. |
Summary | true |
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. |
Note | This is a business identifier, not a resource identifier (see discussion) |
Cardinality | 0..1 |
Type | Identifier |
Requirements | Allows identification of the {{title}} as it is known by various participating systems and in a way that remains consistent across servers. |
Summary | true |
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. |
Note | This is a business versionId, not a resource version id (see discussion) |
Cardinality | 0..1 |
Type | string |
Summary | true |
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}}. |
Cardinality | 0..1 |
Type | string |
Summary | true |
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. |
Cardinality | 0..* |
Type | canonical(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. |
Summary | true |
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. |
Cardinality | 0..* |
Type | uri |
Requirements | Protocols and order sets may be refinements of more generic protocols and order sets. |
Summary | true |
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. |
Cardinality | 0..* |
Type | canonical(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 Names | container |
Summary | true |
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. |
Cardinality | 0..* |
Type | canonical(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 Names | supersedes; prior; renewed order |
Summary | true |
Definition.status | |
Definition | The current state of the {{title}}. |
Cardinality | 1..1 |
Terminology Binding | PublicationStatus (Required) |
Type | code |
Is Modifier | true (Reason: This is labeled as "Is Modifier" because applications should not use a retired {{title}} without due consideration) |
Summary | true |
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 Do | Should 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. |
Cardinality | 0..1 |
Type | boolean |
Is Modifier | true (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. |
Summary | true |
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. |
Cardinality | 0..1 |
Terminology Binding | DefinitionSubject: |
Type | CodeableConcept|Reference(Group) |
[x] Note | See 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 Names | Subject type |
Summary | true |
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. |
Cardinality | 0..1 |
Type | dateTime |
Alternate Names | created |
Summary | true |
Definition.publisher | |
Definition | Helps establish the "authority/credibility" of the {{title}}. May also allow for contact. |
Cardinality | 0..1 |
Type | Reference(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 Names | author |
Summary | true |
Definition.contact | |
Definition | Contact details to assist a user in finding and communicating with the publisher. |
Cardinality | 0..* |
Type | ContactDetail |
Summary | true |
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. |
Cardinality | 0..1 |
Type | markdown |
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. |
Cardinality | 0..* |
Type | UsageContext |
Requirements | Assist in searching for appropriate content. |
Summary | true |
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. |
Cardinality | 0..* |
Terminology Binding | Jurisdiction (Extensible) |
Type | CodeableConcept |
Summary | true |
Definition.purpose | |
Definition | Explains why this {{title}} is needed and why it has been designed as it has. |
Cardinality | 0..1 |
Type | markdown |
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}}. |
Cardinality | 0..1 |
Type | markdown |
Requirements | Consumers of the {{title}} must be able to determine any legal restrictions on the use of the artifact and/or its content. |
Alternate Names | License; 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. |
Cardinality | 0..1 |
Type | date |
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. |
Cardinality | 0..1 |
Type | date |
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. |
Cardinality | 0..1 |
Type | Period |
Summary | true |
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. |
Cardinality | 0..1 |
Terminology Binding | PerformerType: |
Type | CodeableConcept |
Summary | true |
To Do | Need to define who.performer. |