This page is part of the FHIR Specification (v3.3.0: R4 Ballot 2). The current version which supercedes this version is 5.0.0. For a full list of available versions, see the Directory of published versions . Page versions: R5 R4B R4
Orders and Observations Work Group | Maturity Level: 2 | Trial Use | Compartments: Device, Encounter, Patient, Practitioner, RelatedPerson |
Detailed Descriptions for the elements in the ServiceRequest resource.
ServiceRequest | |
Element Id | ServiceRequest |
Definition | A record of a request for service such as diagnostic investigations, treatments, or operations to be performed. |
Control | 1..1 |
Alternate Names | diagnostic request; referral; referral request; transfer of care request |
Invariants | Defined on this element prr-1: orderDetail SHALL only be present if code is present (expression : orderDetail.empty() or code.exists(), xpath: exists(f:code) or not(exists(f:orderDetail))) |
ServiceRequest.identifier | |
Element Id | ServiceRequest.identifier |
Definition | Identifiers assigned to this order instance by the orderer and/or the receiver and/or order fulfiller. |
Note | This is a business identifer, not a resource identifier (see discussion) |
Control | 0..* |
Type | Identifier |
Summary | true |
Comments | The identifier.type element is used to distinguish between the identifiers assigned by the orderer (known as the 'Placer' in HL7 v2) and the producer of the observations in response to the order (known as the 'Filler' in HL7 v2). For further discussion and examples see the resource notes section below. |
ServiceRequest.instantiates | |
Element Id | ServiceRequest.instantiates |
Definition | Protocol or definition followed by this request. |
Control | 0..* |
Type | uri |
Alternate Names | protocol |
Summary | true |
ServiceRequest.basedOn | |
Element Id | ServiceRequest.basedOn |
Definition | Plan/proposal/order fulfilled by this request. |
Control | 0..* |
Type | Reference(CarePlan | ServiceRequest | MedicationRequest) |
Alternate Names | fulfills |
Summary | true |
ServiceRequest.replaces | |
Element Id | ServiceRequest.replaces |
Definition | The request takes the place of the referenced completed or terminated request(s). |
Control | 0..* |
Type | Reference(ServiceRequest) |
Alternate Names | supersedes; prior; renewed order |
Summary | true |
ServiceRequest.requisition | |
Element Id | ServiceRequest.requisition |
Definition | A shared identifier common to all service requests that were authorized more or less simultaneously by a single author, representing the composite or group identifier. |
Control | 0..1 |
Type | Identifier |
Requirements | Some business processes need to know if multiple items were ordered as part of the same "requisition" for billing or other purposes. |
Alternate Names | grouperId; groupIdentifier |
Summary | true |
Comments | Requests are linked either by a "basedOn" relationship (i.e. one request is fulfilling another) or by having a common requisition. Requests that are part of the same requisition are generally treated independently from the perspective of changing their state or maintaining them after initial creation. |
ServiceRequest.status | |
Element Id | ServiceRequest.status |
Definition | The status of the order. |
Control | 1..1 |
Terminology Binding | RequestStatus (Required) |
Type | code |
Is Modifier | true (Reason: This element is labeled 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) |
Summary | true |
Comments | The status is generally fully in the control of the requester - they determine whether the order is draft or active and, after it has been activated, competed, cancelled or suspended. States relating to the activities of the performer are reflected on either the corresponding event (see Event Pattern for general discussion) or using the Task resource. |
ServiceRequest.intent | |
Element Id | ServiceRequest.intent |
Definition | Whether the request is a proposal, plan, an original order or a reflex order. |
Control | 1..1 |
Terminology Binding | RequestIntent (Required) |
Type | code |
Is Modifier | true (Reason: This element changes the interpretation of all descriptive attributes. For example "the time the request is recommended to occur" vs. "the time the request is authorized to occur" or "who is recommended to perform the request" vs. "who is authorized to perform the request) |
Summary | true |
Comments | This element is labeled as a modifier because the intent alters when and how the resource is actually applicable. |
ServiceRequest.category | |
Element Id | ServiceRequest.category |
Definition | A code that classifies the service for searching, sorting and display purposes (e.g. "Surgical Procedure"). |
Control | 0..* |
Terminology Binding | Service Request Category Codes (Example) |
Type | CodeableConcept |
Requirements | Used for filtering what service request are retrieved and displayed. |
Summary | true |
Comments | There may be multiple axis of categorization depending on the context or use case for retrieving or displaying the resource. The level of granularity is defined by the category concepts in the value set. |
ServiceRequest.priority | |
Element Id | ServiceRequest.priority |
Definition | Indicates how quickly the ServiceRequest should be addressed with respect to other requests. |
Control | 0..1 |
Terminology Binding | RequestPriority (Required) |
Type | code |
Meaning if Missing | If missing, this task should be performed with normal priority |
Summary | true |
ServiceRequest.doNotPerform | |
Element Id | ServiceRequest.doNotPerform |
Definition | Set this to true if the record is saying that the service/procedure should NOT be performed. |
Control | 0..1 |
Type | boolean |
Is Modifier | true (Reason: If true this element negates the specified action. For Example, instead of a request for a procedure, it is a request for the procedure to not occur.) |
Meaning if Missing | If missing, the request is a positive request e.g. "do perform" |
Requirements | Used for do not ambulate, do not elevate head of bed, do not flush NG tube, do not take blood pressure on a certain arm, etc. |
Summary | true |
Comments | In general, only the code and timeframe will be present, though occasional additional qualifiers such as body site or even performer could be included to narrow the scope of the prohibition. If the ServiceRequest.code and ServiceRequest.doNotPerform both contain negation, that will reinforce prohibition and should not have a double negative interpretation. |
ServiceRequest.code | |
Element Id | ServiceRequest.code |
Definition | A code that identifies a particular service (i.e., procedure, diagnostic investigation, or panel of investigations) that have been requested. |
Control | 0..1 |
Terminology Binding | Procedure Codes (SNOMED CT) (Example) |
Type | CodeableConcept |
Alternate Names | service requested |
Summary | true |
Comments | Many laboratory and radiology procedure codes embed the specimen/organ system in the test order name, for example, serum or serum/plasma glucose, or a chest x-ray. The specimen might not be recorded separately from the test code. |
ServiceRequest.orderDetail | |
Element Id | ServiceRequest.orderDetail |
Definition | Additional details and instructions about the how the services are to be delivered. For example, and order for a urinary catheter may have an order detail for an external or indwelling catheter, or an order for a bandage may require additional instructions specifying how the bandage should be applied. |
Control | 0..* |
Terminology Binding | Service Request Order Details Codes (Example) |
Type | CodeableConcept |
Alternate Names | detailed instructions |
Summary | true |
Comments | For information from the medical record intended to support the delivery of the requested services, use the |
Invariants | Affect this element prr-1: orderDetail SHALL only be present if code is present (expression : orderDetail.empty() or code.exists(), xpath: exists(f:code) or not(exists(f:orderDetail))) |
ServiceRequest.subject | |
Element Id | ServiceRequest.subject |
Definition | On whom or what the service is to be performed. This is usually a human patient, but can also be requested on animals, groups of humans or animals, devices such as dialysis machines, or even locations (typically for environmental scans). |
Control | 1..1 |
Type | Reference(Patient | Group | Location | Device) |
Summary | true |
ServiceRequest.context | |
Element Id | ServiceRequest.context |
Definition | An encounter or episode of care that provides additional information about the healthcare context in which this request is made. |
Control | 0..1 |
Type | Reference(Encounter | EpisodeOfCare) |
Alternate Names | encounter |
Summary | true |
ServiceRequest.occurrence[x] | |
Element Id | ServiceRequest.occurrence[x] |
Definition | The date/time at which the requested service should occur. |
Control | 0..1 |
Type | dateTime|Period|Timing |
[x] Note | See Choice of Data Types for further information about how to use [x] |
Alternate Names | schedule |
Summary | true |
ServiceRequest.asNeeded[x] | |
Element Id | ServiceRequest.asNeeded[x] |
Definition | If a CodeableConcept is present, it indicates the pre-condition for performing the service. For example "pain", "on flare-up", etc. |
Control | 0..1 |
Terminology Binding | SNOMED CT Medication As Needed Reason Codes (Example) |
Type | boolean|CodeableConcept |
[x] Note | See Choice of Data Types for further information about how to use [x] |
Summary | true |
ServiceRequest.authoredOn | |
Element Id | ServiceRequest.authoredOn |
Definition | When the request transitioned to being actionable. |
Control | 0..1 |
Type | dateTime |
Alternate Names | orderedOn |
Summary | true |
ServiceRequest.requester | |
Element Id | ServiceRequest.requester |
Definition | The individual who initiated the request and has responsibility for its activation. |
Control | 0..1 |
Type | Reference(Practitioner | PractitionerRole | Organization | Patient | RelatedPerson | Device) |
Alternate Names | author; orderer |
Summary | true |
Comments | This not the dispatcher, but rather who is the authorizer. This element is not intended to handle delegation which would generally be managed through the Provenance resource. |
ServiceRequest.performerType | |
Element Id | ServiceRequest.performerType |
Definition | Desired type of performer for doing the requested service. |
Control | 0..1 |
Terminology Binding | Participant Roles (Example) |
Type | CodeableConcept |
Alternate Names | specialty |
Summary | true |
Comments | This is a role, not a participation type. In other words, does not describe the task but describes the capacity. For example, “compounding pharmacy”, “psychiatrist” or “internal referral”. |
ServiceRequest.performer | |
Element Id | ServiceRequest.performer |
Definition | The desired performer for doing the requested service. For example, the surgeon, dermatopathologist, endoscopist, etc. |
Control | 0..* |
Type | Reference(Practitioner | PractitionerRole | Organization | CareTeam | HealthcareService | Patient | Device | RelatedPerson) |
Alternate Names | request recipient |
Summary | true |
Comments | If multiple performers are present, it is interpreted as a list of alternative performers without any preference regardless of order. If order of preference is needed use the request-performerOrder extension. Use CareTeam to represent a group of performers (for example, Practitioner A and Practitioner B). |
ServiceRequest.reasonCode | |
Element Id | ServiceRequest.reasonCode |
Definition | An explanation or justification for why this service is being requested in coded or textual form. This is often for billing purposes. May relate to the resources referred to in supportingInformation. |
Control | 0..* |
Terminology Binding | Procedure Reason Codes (Example) |
Type | CodeableConcept |
Summary | true |
Comments | This element represents why the referral is being made and may be used to decide how the service will be performed, or even if it will be performed at all. Use |
ServiceRequest.reasonReference | |
Element Id | ServiceRequest.reasonReference |
Definition | Indicates another resource that provides a justification for why this service is being requested. May relate to the resources referred to in supportingInformation. |
Control | 0..* |
Type | Reference(Condition | Observation | DiagnosticReport | DocumentReference) |
Summary | true |
Comments | This element represents why the referral is being made and may be used to decide how the service will be performed, or even if it will be performed at all. To be as specific as possible, a reference to Observation or Condition should be used if available. Otherwise when referencing DiagnosticReport it should contain a finding in |
ServiceRequest.insurance | |
Element Id | ServiceRequest.insurance |
Definition | Insurance plans, coverage extensions, pre-authorizations and/or pre-determinations that may be needed for delivering the requested service. |
Control | 0..* |
Type | Reference(Coverage | ClaimResponse) |
ServiceRequest.supportingInfo | |
Element Id | ServiceRequest.supportingInfo |
Definition | Additional clinical information about the patient or specimen that may influence the services or their interpretations. This information includes diagnosis, clinical findings and other observations. In laboratory ordering these are typically referred to as "ask at order entry questions (AOEs)". This includes observations explicitly requested by the producer (filler) to provide context or supporting information needed to complete the order. For example, reporting the amount of inspired oxygen for blood gas measurements. |
Control | 0..* |
Type | Reference(Any) |
Alternate Names | Ask at order entry question; AOE |
Comments | For information how the services are to be delivered. use the |
ServiceRequest.specimen | |
Element Id | ServiceRequest.specimen |
Definition | One or more specimens that the laboratory procedure will use. |
Control | 0..* |
Type | Reference(Specimen) |
Summary | true |
Comments | Many diagnostic procedures need a specimen, but the request itself is not actually about the specimen. This element is for when the diagnostic is requested on already existing specimens and the request points to the specimen it applies to. Conversely, If the request is entered first with an unknown specimen, The Specimen resource references to the ServiceRequest. |
ServiceRequest.bodySite | |
Element Id | ServiceRequest.bodySite |
Definition | Anatomic location where the procedure should be performed. This is the target site. |
Control | 0..* |
Terminology Binding | SNOMED CT Body Structures (Example) |
Type | CodeableConcept |
Requirements | Knowing where the procedure is performed is important for tracking if multiple sites are possible. |
Alternate Names | location |
Summary | true |
Comments | Only used if not implicit in the code found in ServiceRequest.code. If the use case requires BodySite to be handled as a separate resource instead of an inline coded element (e.g. to identify and track separately) then use the standard extension procedure-targetBodyStructure. |
ServiceRequest.note | |
Element Id | ServiceRequest.note |
Definition | Any other notes and comments made about the service request. For example, internal billing notes. |
Control | 0..* |
Type | Annotation |
ServiceRequest.patientInstruction | |
Element Id | ServiceRequest.patientInstruction |
Definition | Instructions in terms that are understood by the patient or consumer. |
Control | 0..1 |
Type | string |
Summary | true |
ServiceRequest.relevantHistory | |
Element Id | ServiceRequest.relevantHistory |
Definition | Key events in the history of the request. |
Control | 0..* |
Type | Reference(Provenance) |
Comments | This might not include provenances for all versions of the request – only those deemed “relevant” or important. This SHALL NOT include the Provenance associated with this current version of the resource. (If that provenance is deemed to be a “relevant” change, it will need to be added as part of a later update. Until then, it can be queried directly as the Provenance that points to this version using _revinclude All Provenances should have some historical version of this Request as their subject. |