Practitioner - FHIR v0.0.82

This page is part of the FHIR Specification (v0.0.82: DSTU 1). 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 R3 R2

5.3.8 Resource Practitioner - Formal Definitions

Formal definitions for the elements in the Practitioner resource.

Practitioner
Definition	A person who is directly or indirectly involved in the provisioning of healthcare.
Control	1..1
Requirements	Need to track doctors, staff, locums etc. for both healthcare practitioners, funders, etc.
Comments	Note that a cab driver no longer fits the bill. You probably would be interested in the organization rather than the individual?.
Practitioner.identifier
Definition	An identifier that applies to this person in this role.
Control	0..*
Type	Identifier
Requirements	Often, specific identities are assigned for the agent.
Summary	true
Practitioner.name
Definition	A name associated with the person.
Control	0..1
Type	HumanName
Requirements	Contact persons need to be identified by name, but it is uncommon to need details about multiple other names for that person.
Summary	true
Practitioner.telecom
Definition	A contact detail for the practitioner, e.g. a telephone number or an email address.
Control	0..*
Type	Contact
Requirements	Need to know how to reach a practitioner.
Summary	true
Comments	Person may have multiple ways to be contacted with different uses or applicable periods. May need to have options for contacting the person urgently, and also to help with identification.
Practitioner.address
Definition	The postal address where the practitioner can be found or visited or to which mail can be delivered.
Control	0..1
Type	Address
Requirements	Need to keep track where the practitioner can found during work or for directing mail.
Summary	true
Practitioner.gender
Definition	Administrative Gender - the gender that the person is considered to have for administration and record keeping purposes.
Control	0..1
Binding	AdministrativeGender: (See http://hl7.org/fhir/vs/administrative-gender)
Type	CodeableConcept
Requirements	Needed to address the person correctly.
Summary	true
Practitioner.birthDate
Definition	The date and time of birth for the practitioner.
Control	0..1
Type	dateTime
Requirements	Needed for identification.
Summary	true
Practitioner.photo
Definition	Image of the person.
Control	0..*
Type	Attachment
Requirements	Many EHR systems have the capability to capture an image of patients and personnel. Fits with newer social media usage too.
Practitioner.organization
Definition	The organization that the practitioner represents.
Control	0..1
Type	Resource(Organization)
Requirements	Need to be able to track the represented organization separately, if any.
Summary	true
Practitioner.role
Definition	Roles which this practitioner is authorized to perform for the organization.
Control	0..*
Binding	PractitionerRole: (See http://hl7.org/fhir/vs/practitioner-role)
Type	CodeableConcept
Requirements	Need to know what authority the practitioner has - what can they do?.
Summary	true
Comments	A person may have more than one role. At least one role is required.
Practitioner.specialty
Definition	Specific specialty of the practitioner.
Control	0..*
Binding	PractitionerSpecialty: (See http://hl7.org/fhir/vs/practitioner-specialty)
Type	CodeableConcept
Summary	true
Practitioner.period
Definition	The period during which the person is authorized to act as a practitioner in these role(s) for the organization.
Control	0..1
Type	Period
Requirements	Even after the agencies is revoked, the fact that it existed must still be recorded.
Summary	true
Practitioner.location
Definition	The location(s) at which this practitioner provides care.
Control	0..*
Type	Resource(Location)
Practitioner.qualification
Definition	Qualifications obtained by training and certification.
Control	0..*
Practitioner.qualification.code
Definition	Coded representation of the qualification.
Control	1..1
Binding	Qualification: (See http://hl7.org/fhir/vs/anzsco-occupations)
Type	CodeableConcept
Practitioner.qualification.period
Definition	Period during which the qualification is valid.
Control	0..1
Type	Period
Requirements	Qualifications are often for a limited period of time, and can be revoked.
Practitioner.qualification.issuer
Definition	Organization that regulates and issues the qualification.
Control	0..1
Type	Resource(Organization)
Practitioner.communication
Definition	A language the practitioner is able to use in patient communication.
Control	0..*
Binding	Language: see IETF language tag
Type	CodeableConcept
Requirements	Knowing which language a practitioner speaks can help in facilitating communication with patients.
Comments	The structure aa-BB with this exact casing is one the most widely used notations for locale. However not all systems actually code this but instead have it as free text. Hence CodeableConcept instead of code as the data type.