QI-Core Implementation Guide
7.0.0-ballot - STU7 Ballot United States of America flag

This page is part of the Quality Improvement Core Framework (v7.0.0-ballot: STU7 (v7.0.0) Ballot 1) based on FHIR (HL7® FHIR® Standard) R4. The current version which supersedes this version is 6.0.0. For a full list of available versions, see the Directory of published versions

Resource Profile: QICoreFlag - Detailed Descriptions

Active as of 2018-08-22

Definitions for the qicore-flag resource profile.

Guidance on how to interpret the contents of this table can be found here

0. Flag
2. Flag.status
Short(QI) active | inactive | entered-in-error
4. Flag.category
Short(QI) Clinical, administrative, etc.
BindingThe codes SHOULD be taken from FlagCategory
(preferred to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/flag-category)
6. Flag.code
Short(QI) Coded or textual message to display to user
BindingThe codes SHOULD be taken from FlagCode
(preferred to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/flag-code)
8. Flag.subject
Short(QI) Who/What is flag about?
TypeReference(QICore Patient, QICore Location, Group, QICore Organization, QICore Practitioner)
10. Flag.period
Short(QI) Time period when flag is active

Guidance on how to interpret the contents of this table can be found here

0. Flag
Definition

Prospective warnings of potential issues when providing care to the patient.

ShortKey information to flag to healthcare providers
Control0..*
Is Modifierfalse
Summaryfalse
Alternate NamesBarriers to Care, Alert, Warning
Invariantsdom-2: If the resource is contained in another resource, it SHALL NOT contain nested Resources (contained.contained.empty())
dom-3: If the resource is contained in another resource, it SHALL be referred to from elsewhere in the resource or SHALL refer to the containing resource (contained.where((('#'+id in (%resource.descendants().reference | %resource.descendants().as(canonical) | %resource.descendants().as(uri) | %resource.descendants().as(url))) or descendants().where(reference = '#').exists() or descendants().where(as(canonical) = '#').exists() or descendants().where(as(canonical) = '#').exists()).not()).trace('unmatched', id).empty())
dom-4: If a resource is contained in another resource, it SHALL NOT have a meta.versionId or a meta.lastUpdated (contained.meta.versionId.empty() and contained.meta.lastUpdated.empty())
dom-5: If a resource is contained in another resource, it SHALL NOT have a security label (contained.meta.security.empty())
dom-6: A resource should have narrative for robust management (text.`div`.exists())
2. Flag.implicitRules
Definition

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.

ShortA set of rules under which this content was created
Comments

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 it's narrative along with other profiles, value sets, etc.

Control0..1
Typeuri
Is Modifiertrue because This element is labeled as a modifier because the implicit rules may provide additional knowledge about the resource that modifies it's meaning or interpretation
Primitive ValueThis primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
Summarytrue
Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
4. Flag.modifierExtension
Definition

May be used to represent additional information that is not part of the basic definition of the resource and that modifies the understanding of the element that contains it and/or the understanding of the containing element's descendants. Usually modifier elements provide negation or qualification. To make the use of extensions safe and manageable, there is a strict set of governance applied to the definition and use of extensions. Though any implementer is allowed to define an extension, there is a set of requirements that SHALL be met as part of the definition of the extension. Applications processing a resource are required to check for modifier extensions.

Modifier extensions SHALL NOT change the meaning of any elements on Resource or DomainResource (including cannot change the meaning of modifierExtension itself).

ShortExtensions that cannot be ignored
Comments

There can be no stigma associated with the use of extensions by any application, project, or standard - regardless of the institution or jurisdiction that uses or defines the extensions. The use of extensions is what allows the FHIR specification to retain a core level of simplicity for everyone.

Control0..*
TypeExtension
Is Modifiertrue because Modifier extensions are expected to modify the meaning or interpretation of the resource that contains them
Summaryfalse
Requirements

Modifier extensions allow for extensions that cannot be safely ignored to be clearly distinguished from the vast majority of extensions which can be safely ignored. This promotes interoperability by eliminating the need for implementers to prohibit the presence of extensions. For further information, see the definition of modifier extensions.

Alternate Namesextensions, user content
Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
ext-1: Must have either extensions or value[x], not both (extension.exists() != value.exists())
6. Flag.status
Definition

Supports basic workflow.

Short(QI) active | inactive | entered-in-erroractive | inactive | entered-in-error
Comments

This element is labeled as a modifier because the status contains codes that mark the resource as not currently valid.

Control1..1
BindingThe codes SHALL be taken from FlagStatushttp://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/flag-status|4.0.1
(required to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/flag-status|4.0.1)

Indicates whether this flag is active and needs to be displayed to a user, or whether it is no longer needed or was entered in error.

Typecode
Is Modifiertrue because This element is labelled as a modifier because it is a status element that contains status entered-in-error which means that the resource should not be treated as valid
Primitive ValueThis primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
Summarytrue
Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
8. Flag.category
Definition

Allows a flag to be divided into different categories like clinical, administrative etc. Intended to be used as a means of filtering which flags are displayed to particular user or in a given context.

Short(QI) Clinical, administrative, etc.Clinical, administrative, etc.
Comments

The value set will often need to be adjusted based on local business rules and usage context.

Control0..*
BindingThe codes SHOULD be taken from For example codes, see FlagCategoryhttp://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/flag-category
(preferred to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/flag-category)
TypeCodeableConcept
Is Modifierfalse
Summarytrue
Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
10. Flag.code
Definition

The coded value or textual component of the flag to display to the user.

Short(QI) Coded or textual message to display to userCoded or textual message to display to user
Comments

If non-coded, use CodeableConcept.text. This element should always be included in the narrative.

Control1..1
BindingThe codes SHOULD be taken from For example codes, see FlagCodehttp://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/flag-code
(preferred to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/flag-code)
TypeCodeableConcept
Is Modifierfalse
Summarytrue
Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
12. Flag.subject
Definition

The patient, location, group, organization, or practitioner etc. this is about record this flag is associated with.

Short(QI) Who/What is flag about?Who/What is flag about?
Control1..1
TypeReference(QICore Patient, QICore Location, Group, QICore Organization, QICore Practitioner, Patient, Location, Organization, Practitioner, PlanDefinition, Medication, Procedure)
Is Modifierfalse
Summarytrue
Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
14. Flag.period
Definition

The period of time from the activation of the flag to inactivation of the flag. If the flag is active, the end of the period should be unspecified.

Short(QI) Time period when flag is activeTime period when flag is active
Control0..1
TypePeriod
Is Modifierfalse
Summarytrue
Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))

Guidance on how to interpret the contents of this table can be found here

0. Flag
Definition

Prospective warnings of potential issues when providing care to the patient.

ShortKey information to flag to healthcare providers
Control0..*
Is Modifierfalse
Summaryfalse
Alternate NamesBarriers to Care, Alert, Warning
Invariantsdom-2: If the resource is contained in another resource, it SHALL NOT contain nested Resources (contained.contained.empty())
dom-3: If the resource is contained in another resource, it SHALL be referred to from elsewhere in the resource or SHALL refer to the containing resource (contained.where((('#'+id in (%resource.descendants().reference | %resource.descendants().as(canonical) | %resource.descendants().as(uri) | %resource.descendants().as(url))) or descendants().where(reference = '#').exists() or descendants().where(as(canonical) = '#').exists() or descendants().where(as(canonical) = '#').exists()).not()).trace('unmatched', id).empty())
dom-4: If a resource is contained in another resource, it SHALL NOT have a meta.versionId or a meta.lastUpdated (contained.meta.versionId.empty() and contained.meta.lastUpdated.empty())
dom-5: If a resource is contained in another resource, it SHALL NOT have a security label (contained.meta.security.empty())
dom-6: A resource should have narrative for robust management (text.`div`.exists())
2. Flag.id
Definition

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

ShortLogical id of this artifact
Comments

The only time that a resource does not have an id is when it is being submitted to the server using a create operation.

Control0..1
Typeid
Is Modifierfalse
Summarytrue
4. Flag.meta
Definition

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.

ShortMetadata about the resource
Control0..1
TypeMeta
Is Modifierfalse
Summarytrue
Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
6. Flag.implicitRules
Definition

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.

ShortA set of rules under which this content was created
Comments

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 it's narrative along with other profiles, value sets, etc.

Control0..1
Typeuri
Is Modifiertrue because This element is labeled as a modifier because the implicit rules may provide additional knowledge about the resource that modifies it's meaning or interpretation
Primitive ValueThis primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
Summarytrue
Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
8. Flag.language
Definition

The base language in which the resource is written.

ShortLanguage of the resource content
Comments

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).

Control0..1
BindingThe codes SHOULD be taken from CommonLanguages
(preferred to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/languages)

A human language.

Additional BindingsPurpose
AllLanguagesMax Binding
Typecode
Is Modifierfalse
Primitive ValueThis primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
Summaryfalse
Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
10. Flag.text
Definition

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.

ShortText summary of the resource, for human interpretation
Comments

Contained resources do not have 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.

Control0..1
TypeNarrative
Is Modifierfalse
Summaryfalse
Alternate Namesnarrative, html, xhtml, display
Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
12. Flag.contained
Definition

These resources do not have an independent existence apart from the resource that contains them - they cannot be identified independently, and nor can they have their own independent transaction scope.

ShortContained, inline Resources
Comments

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.

Control0..*
TypeResource
Is Modifierfalse
Summaryfalse
Alternate Namesinline resources, anonymous resources, contained resources
14. Flag.extension
Definition

May be used to represent additional information that is not part of the basic definition of the resource. To make the use of extensions safe and manageable, there is a strict set of governance applied to the definition and use of extensions. Though any implementer can define an extension, there is a set of requirements that SHALL be met as part of the definition of the extension.

ShortAdditional content defined by implementations
Comments

There can be no stigma associated with the use of extensions by any application, project, or standard - regardless of the institution or jurisdiction that uses or defines the extensions. The use of extensions is what allows the FHIR specification to retain a core level of simplicity for everyone.

Control0..*
TypeExtension
Is Modifierfalse
Summaryfalse
Alternate Namesextensions, user content
Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
ext-1: Must have either extensions or value[x], not both (extension.exists() != value.exists())
16. Flag.modifierExtension
Definition

May be used to represent additional information that is not part of the basic definition of the resource and that modifies the understanding of the element that contains it and/or the understanding of the containing element's descendants. Usually modifier elements provide negation or qualification. To make the use of extensions safe and manageable, there is a strict set of governance applied to the definition and use of extensions. Though any implementer is allowed to define an extension, there is a set of requirements that SHALL be met as part of the definition of the extension. Applications processing a resource are required to check for modifier extensions.

Modifier extensions SHALL NOT change the meaning of any elements on Resource or DomainResource (including cannot change the meaning of modifierExtension itself).

ShortExtensions that cannot be ignored
Comments

There can be no stigma associated with the use of extensions by any application, project, or standard - regardless of the institution or jurisdiction that uses or defines the extensions. The use of extensions is what allows the FHIR specification to retain a core level of simplicity for everyone.

Control0..*
TypeExtension
Is Modifiertrue because Modifier extensions are expected to modify the meaning or interpretation of the resource that contains them
Summaryfalse
Requirements

Modifier extensions allow for extensions that cannot be safely ignored to be clearly distinguished from the vast majority of extensions which can be safely ignored. This promotes interoperability by eliminating the need for implementers to prohibit the presence of extensions. For further information, see the definition of modifier extensions.

Alternate Namesextensions, user content
Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
ext-1: Must have either extensions or value[x], not both (extension.exists() != value.exists())
18. Flag.identifier
Definition

Business identifiers assigned to this flag by the performer or other systems which remain constant as the resource is updated and propagates from server to server.

ShortBusiness identifier
Comments

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.

NoteThis is a business identifier, not a resource identifier (see discussion)
Control0..*
TypeIdentifier
Is Modifierfalse
Summarytrue
Requirements

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

Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
20. Flag.status
Definition

Supports basic workflow.

Short(QI) active | inactive | entered-in-error
Comments

This element is labeled as a modifier because the status contains codes that mark the resource as not currently valid.

Control1..1
BindingThe codes SHALL be taken from FlagStatus
(required to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/flag-status|4.0.1)

Indicates whether this flag is active and needs to be displayed to a user, or whether it is no longer needed or was entered in error.

Typecode
Is Modifiertrue because This element is labelled as a modifier because it is a status element that contains status entered-in-error which means that the resource should not be treated as valid
Primitive ValueThis primitive element may be present, or absent, or replaced by an extension
Summarytrue
Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
22. Flag.category
Definition

Allows a flag to be divided into different categories like clinical, administrative etc. Intended to be used as a means of filtering which flags are displayed to particular user or in a given context.

Short(QI) Clinical, administrative, etc.
Comments

The value set will often need to be adjusted based on local business rules and usage context.

Control0..*
BindingThe codes SHOULD be taken from FlagCategory
(preferred to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/flag-category)
TypeCodeableConcept
Is Modifierfalse
Summarytrue
Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
24. Flag.code
Definition

The coded value or textual component of the flag to display to the user.

Short(QI) Coded or textual message to display to user
Comments

If non-coded, use CodeableConcept.text. This element should always be included in the narrative.

Control1..1
BindingThe codes SHOULD be taken from FlagCode
(preferred to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/flag-code)
TypeCodeableConcept
Is Modifierfalse
Summarytrue
Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
26. Flag.subject
Definition

The patient, location, group, organization, or practitioner etc. this is about record this flag is associated with.

Short(QI) Who/What is flag about?
Control1..1
TypeReference(QICore Patient, QICore Location, Group, QICore Organization, QICore Practitioner)
Is Modifierfalse
Summarytrue
Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
28. Flag.period
Definition

The period of time from the activation of the flag to inactivation of the flag. If the flag is active, the end of the period should be unspecified.

Short(QI) Time period when flag is active
Control0..1
TypePeriod
Is Modifierfalse
Summarytrue
Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
30. Flag.encounter
Definition

This alert is only relevant during the encounter.

ShortAlert relevant during encounter
Comments

If both Flag.encounter and Flag.period are valued, then Flag.period.start shall not be before Encounter.period.start and Flag.period.end shall not be after Encounter.period.end.

Control0..1
TypeReference(Encounter)
Is Modifierfalse
Summarytrue
Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))
32. Flag.author
Definition

The person, organization or device that created the flag.

ShortFlag creator
Control0..1
TypeReference(Device, Organization, Patient, Practitioner, PractitionerRole)
Is Modifierfalse
Summarytrue
Invariantsele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count()))