# DAPL De-identified Encounter - De-identified, Anonymized FHIR Profiles Library v1.0.0-ballot

* [**Table of Contents**](toc.md)
* [**Artifacts Summary**](artifacts.md)
* **DAPL De-identified Encounter**

## Resource Profile: DAPL De-identified Encounter 

| | | |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| *Official URL*:http://hl7.org/fhir/us/dapl/StructureDefinition/dapl-deidentified-encounter | *Version*:1.0.0-ballot | |
| * Standards status: *[Trial-use](http://hl7.org/fhir/R4/versions.html#std-process) | [Maturity Level](http://hl7.org/fhir/versions.html#maturity): 2 | *Computable Name*:DAPLEncounter |

 
The profile establishes the core elements, extensions, vocabularies and value sets for representing deidentified encounters or visit information. 

All canonical (Official) URLs will be changed in the future and are not available currently on the web.

### Introduction

This profile is used to represent de-identified Encounter information. The de-identification process has to remove all data elements not explicitly identified as "SUPPORTED" in the profile.

The [HHS De-identification Guidance](https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/coveredentities/De-identification/hhs_deid_guidance.pdf) is to be followed to ensure appropriate level of de-identification is performed.

According to the HHS guidance, dates should not have a precision of more than the year. This means month and day cannot be included. This includes diagnosis dates, visit dates, onset dates etc.

In FHIR Resources, text elements and reference.display elements which provide human readable information to the providers may be generated using programs and tools from the data present within the resource. For e.g a Encounter resource text element may contain information such as the visit date. This type of information will enable identification of the individuals. In order to avoid inadvertent revealing of PII/PHI, text elements cannot be included in the De-identified FHIR resource and the submission will be rejected when text elements are present by the validation process.

**Age Computation**

The Data Submitter has to compute the age using the visit date of the encounter to be included in the encounter resource as part of the data exchange.

**Capturing Location Information**

The Encounter.location.location points to a Location Resource. The Location.type element can be used to indicate the type of location where the service was provided. The existing Location.type value set can be used to indicate that the service was provided in a SCHOOL based setting.

**Ids and References**

The original Encounter resource id should not be included in the De-identified Encounter instance. Instead a new id should be created and provided as part of the FHIR resource. This Data Submitter should be capable of using the generated id to relink the data to the original Encounter. All resource references to the Encounter submitted as part of the data exchange should refer to newly generated id.

Resource references cannot contain text element as it may contain PHI/PII. The text element for following references are not allowed

* subject
* reasonReference

**Date Truncation**

The DARTS Service Provider has to truncate the following dates to only have a precision of year

* period and its sub elements.
* participant.period

**Examples**

Examples of identifiable data and its corresponding de-identifiable data are present in the [FHIR Artifacts examples](artifacts.md)

**Usages:**

* Refer to this Profile: [DAPL Clinical Result Observation](StructureDefinition-dapl-clinical-result-observation.md), [DAPL Diagnosis](StructureDefinition-dapl-diagnosis.md), [DAPL Lab Observation](StructureDefinition-dapl-lab-observation.md), [DAPL MedicationRequest](StructureDefinition-dapl-medicationrequest.md)... Show 2 more, [DAPL Procedure](StructureDefinition-dapl-procedure.md) and [DAPL ServiceRequest](StructureDefinition-dapl-servicerequest.md)
* Examples for this Profile: [Encounter/de-identified-example](Encounter-de-identified-example.md)

You can also check for [usages in the FHIR IG Statistics](https://packages2.fhir.org/xig/hl7.fhir.us.dapl|current/StructureDefinition/dapl-deidentified-encounter)

### Formal Views of Profile Content

 [Description of Profiles, Differentials, Snapshots and how the different presentations work](http://build.fhir.org/ig/FHIR/ig-guidance/readingIgs.html#structure-definitions). 

 

Other representations of profile: [CSV](StructureDefinition-dapl-deidentified-encounter.csv), [Excel](StructureDefinition-dapl-deidentified-encounter.xlsx), [Schematron](StructureDefinition-dapl-deidentified-encounter.sch) 



## Resource Content

```json
{
  "resourceType" : "StructureDefinition",
  "id" : "dapl-deidentified-encounter",
  "meta" : {
    "versionId" : "1",
    "lastUpdated" : "2026-03-27T02:03:11.293+00:00"
  },
  "extension" : [{
    "url" : "http://hl7.org/fhir/StructureDefinition/structuredefinition-wg",
    "valueCode" : "cgp"
  },
  {
    "url" : "http://hl7.org/fhir/StructureDefinition/structuredefinition-fmm",
    "valueInteger" : 2,
    "_valueInteger" : {
      "extension" : [{
        "url" : "http://hl7.org/fhir/StructureDefinition/structuredefinition-conformance-derivedFrom",
        "valueCanonical" : "http://hl7.org/fhir/us/dapl/ImplementationGuide/dapl"
      }]
    }
  },
  {
    "url" : "http://hl7.org/fhir/StructureDefinition/structuredefinition-standards-status",
    "valueCode" : "trial-use",
    "_valueCode" : {
      "extension" : [{
        "url" : "http://hl7.org/fhir/StructureDefinition/structuredefinition-conformance-derivedFrom",
        "valueCanonical" : "http://hl7.org/fhir/us/dapl/ImplementationGuide/dapl"
      }]
    }
  }],
  "url" : "http://hl7.org/fhir/us/dapl/StructureDefinition/dapl-deidentified-encounter",
  "version" : "1.0.0-ballot",
  "name" : "DAPLEncounter",
  "title" : "DAPL De-identified Encounter",
  "status" : "active",
  "experimental" : false,
  "date" : "2026-05-08T05:01:52+10:00",
  "publisher" : "HL7 International / Cross-Group Projects",
  "contact" : [{
    "telecom" : [{
      "system" : "url",
      "value" : "http://www.hl7.org/Special/committees/cgp"
    }]
  }],
  "description" : "The profile establishes the core elements, extensions, vocabularies and value sets for representing deidentified encounters or visit information.",
  "jurisdiction" : [{
    "coding" : [{
      "system" : "urn:iso:std:iso:3166",
      "code" : "US"
    }]
  }],
  "fhirVersion" : "4.0.1",
  "mapping" : [{
    "identity" : "workflow",
    "uri" : "http://hl7.org/fhir/workflow",
    "name" : "Workflow Pattern"
  },
  {
    "identity" : "rim",
    "uri" : "http://hl7.org/v3",
    "name" : "RIM Mapping"
  },
  {
    "identity" : "w5",
    "uri" : "http://hl7.org/fhir/fivews",
    "name" : "FiveWs Pattern Mapping"
  },
  {
    "identity" : "v2",
    "uri" : "http://hl7.org/v2",
    "name" : "HL7 v2 Mapping"
  }],
  "kind" : "resource",
  "abstract" : false,
  "type" : "Encounter",
  "baseDefinition" : "http://hl7.org/fhir/StructureDefinition/Encounter",
  "derivation" : "constraint",
  "differential" : {
    "element" : [{
      "id" : "Encounter",
      "path" : "Encounter",
      "short" : "DAPL Deidentified Encounter",
      "definition" : "The profile establishes the core elements, extensions, vocabularies and value sets for representing deidentified encounters or visit information."
    },
    {
      "id" : "Encounter.id",
      "path" : "Encounter.id",
      "short" : "The Encounter identifier generated by DARTS deidentification service",
      "definition" : "DAPL Resource identifier.",
      "mustSupport" : true
    },
    {
      "id" : "Encounter.text",
      "path" : "Encounter.text",
      "short" : "Cannot include any text in the resource as part of the deidentified data.",
      "min" : 0,
      "max" : "0",
      "mustSupport" : false
    },
    {
      "id" : "Encounter.contained",
      "path" : "Encounter.contained",
      "short" : "Cannot include any contained resources in the resource as part of the deidentified data.",
      "min" : 0,
      "max" : "0",
      "mustSupport" : false
    },
    {
      "id" : "Encounter.extension:dapl-age-extension",
      "path" : "Encounter.extension",
      "sliceName" : "dapl-age-extension",
      "short" : "Age of the Patient computed using birthDate and the visit dates of the encounter",
      "min" : 1,
      "max" : "1",
      "type" : [{
        "code" : "Extension",
        "profile" : ["http://hl7.org/fhir/us/dapl/StructureDefinition/dapl-age-extension"]
      }],
      "mustSupport" : true
    },
    {
      "id" : "Encounter.status",
      "path" : "Encounter.status",
      "min" : 1,
      "max" : "1",
      "mustSupport" : true
    },
    {
      "id" : "Encounter.class",
      "path" : "Encounter.class",
      "min" : 1,
      "max" : "1",
      "mustSupport" : true
    },
    {
      "id" : "Encounter.type",
      "path" : "Encounter.type",
      "min" : 1,
      "max" : "*",
      "mustSupport" : true,
      "binding" : {
        "strength" : "extensible",
        "description" : "The set of codes indicating the type of encounter",
        "valueSet" : "http://cts.nlm.nih.gov/fhir/ValueSet/2.16.840.1.113762.1.4.1267.23"
      }
    },
    {
      "id" : "Encounter.subject",
      "path" : "Encounter.subject",
      "min" : 1,
      "max" : "1",
      "type" : [{
        "code" : "Reference",
        "targetProfile" : ["http://hl7.org/fhir/us/dapl/StructureDefinition/dapl-deidentified-patient"]
      }],
      "mustSupport" : true
    },
    {
      "id" : "Encounter.subject.display",
      "path" : "Encounter.subject.display",
      "min" : 0,
      "max" : "0",
      "mustSupport" : false
    },
    {
      "id" : "Encounter.participant",
      "path" : "Encounter.participant",
      "min" : 0,
      "max" : "1",
      "mustSupport" : true
    },
    {
      "id" : "Encounter.participant.type",
      "path" : "Encounter.participant.type",
      "min" : 0,
      "max" : "*",
      "mustSupport" : true
    },
    {
      "id" : "Encounter.participant.period",
      "path" : "Encounter.participant.period",
      "min" : 0,
      "max" : "1",
      "constraint" : [{
        "key" : "dapl-enc-1",
        "severity" : "error",
        "human" : "All Period.start data elements should be truncated to a year only for de-identified resources.",
        "expression" : "$this is Period and $this.start.exists() implies $this.start.toString().length() = 4"
      },
      {
        "key" : "dapl-enc-1a",
        "severity" : "error",
        "human" : "All Period.start data elements should have valid year > 1900",
        "expression" : "$this is Period and Period.start.exists() implies $this.start.toString() >= '1900'"
      },
      {
        "key" : "dapl-enc-2",
        "severity" : "error",
        "human" : "All Period.emd data elements should be truncated to a year only for de-identified resources.",
        "expression" : "$this is Period and $this.end.exists() implies $this.end.toString().length() = 4"
      },
      {
        "key" : "uds-plus-enc-2a",
        "severity" : "error",
        "human" : "All Period.end data elements should have valid year > 1900",
        "expression" : "$this is Period and Period.end.exists() implies $this.end.toString() >= '1900'"
      }],
      "mustSupport" : true
    },
    {
      "id" : "Encounter.participant.individual",
      "path" : "Encounter.participant.individual",
      "min" : 0,
      "max" : "1",
      "type" : [{
        "code" : "Reference",
        "targetProfile" : ["http://hl7.org/fhir/us/core/StructureDefinition/us-core-practitioner"]
      }],
      "mustSupport" : true
    },
    {
      "id" : "Encounter.period",
      "path" : "Encounter.period",
      "min" : 0,
      "max" : "1",
      "constraint" : [{
        "key" : "dapl-enc-3",
        "severity" : "error",
        "human" : "All Period.start data elements should be truncated to a year only for de-identified resources.",
        "expression" : "$this is Period and $this.start.exists() implies $this.start.toString().length() = 4"
      },
      {
        "key" : "dapl-enc-3a",
        "severity" : "error",
        "human" : "All Period.start data elements should have valid year > 1900",
        "expression" : "$this is Period and Period.start.exists() implies $this.start.toString() >= '1900'"
      },
      {
        "key" : "dapl-enc-4",
        "severity" : "error",
        "human" : "All Period.emd data elements should be truncated to a year only for de-identified resources.",
        "expression" : "$this is Period and $this.end.exists() implies $this.end.toString().length() = 4"
      },
      {
        "key" : "uds-plus-enc-4a",
        "severity" : "error",
        "human" : "All Period.end data elements should have valid year > 1900",
        "expression" : "$this is Period and Period.end.exists() implies $this.end.toString() >= '1900'"
      }],
      "mustSupport" : true
    },
    {
      "id" : "Encounter.reasonCode",
      "path" : "Encounter.reasonCode",
      "min" : 0,
      "max" : "*",
      "mustSupport" : true
    },
    {
      "id" : "Encounter.reasonReference",
      "path" : "Encounter.reasonReference",
      "min" : 0,
      "max" : "*",
      "type" : [{
        "code" : "Reference",
        "targetProfile" : ["http://hl7.org/fhir/us/dapl/StructureDefinition/dapl-diagnosis"]
      }],
      "mustSupport" : true
    },
    {
      "id" : "Encounter.reasonReference.display",
      "path" : "Encounter.reasonReference.display",
      "min" : 0,
      "max" : "0",
      "mustSupport" : false
    },
    {
      "id" : "Encounter.diagnosis",
      "path" : "Encounter.diagnosis",
      "min" : 0,
      "max" : "*",
      "mustSupport" : true
    },
    {
      "id" : "Encounter.diagnosis.condition",
      "path" : "Encounter.diagnosis.condition",
      "min" : 1,
      "max" : "1",
      "type" : [{
        "code" : "Reference",
        "targetProfile" : ["http://hl7.org/fhir/us/dapl/StructureDefinition/dapl-diagnosis"]
      }],
      "mustSupport" : true
    },
    {
      "id" : "Encounter.diagnosis.use",
      "path" : "Encounter.diagnosis.use",
      "min" : 0,
      "max" : "1",
      "mustSupport" : true
    },
    {
      "id" : "Encounter.diagnosis.rank",
      "path" : "Encounter.diagnosis.rank",
      "min" : 0,
      "max" : "1",
      "mustSupport" : true
    },
    {
      "id" : "Encounter.hospitalization",
      "path" : "Encounter.hospitalization",
      "min" : 0,
      "max" : "1",
      "mustSupport" : true
    },
    {
      "id" : "Encounter.hospitalization.dischargeDisposition",
      "path" : "Encounter.hospitalization.dischargeDisposition",
      "min" : 0,
      "max" : "1",
      "mustSupport" : true,
      "binding" : {
        "strength" : "preferred",
        "description" : "The set of codes indicating the discharge disposition",
        "valueSet" : "http://terminology.hl7.org/ValueSet/v3-USEncounterDischargeDisposition|5.0.0"
      }
    },
    {
      "id" : "Encounter.location",
      "path" : "Encounter.location",
      "min" : 0,
      "max" : "*",
      "mustSupport" : true
    },
    {
      "id" : "Encounter.location.location",
      "path" : "Encounter.location.location",
      "min" : 1,
      "max" : "1",
      "type" : [{
        "code" : "Reference",
        "targetProfile" : ["http://hl7.org/fhir/us/dapl/StructureDefinition/dapl-deidentified-location"]
      }],
      "mustSupport" : true
    },
    {
      "id" : "Encounter.serviceProvider",
      "path" : "Encounter.serviceProvider",
      "min" : 0,
      "max" : "1",
      "type" : [{
        "code" : "Reference",
        "targetProfile" : ["http://hl7.org/fhir/us/core/StructureDefinition/us-core-organization"]
      }],
      "mustSupport" : true
    }]
  }
}

```
