A plan, proposal or order that is fulfilled in whole or in part by this event.

Indicates the site on the subject's body where the observation was made (i.e. the target site).

Binding: SNOMED CT Body Structures (Example)

Describes what was observed. Sometimes this is called the observation "name".

Binding: LOINC Codes (Example)

Some observations have multiple component observations. These component observations are expressed as separate code value pairs that share the same attributes. Examples include systolic and diastolic component observations for blood pressure measurement and multiple component observations for genetics observations.

Provides a reason why the expected value in the element Observation.value[x] is missing.

Binding: Observation Value Absent Reason (Extensible)

The time or time-period the observed value is asserted as being true. For biological subjects - e.g. human patients - this is usually called the "physiologically relevant time". This is usually either the time of the procedure or of specimen collection, but very often the source of the date/time is not known, only the date/time itself.

The assessment made based on the result of the observation. Intended as a simple compact code often placed adjacent to the result value in reports and flow sheets to signal the meaning/normalcy status of the result. Otherwise known as abnormal flag.

Binding: Observation Interpretation Codes (Extensible)

Indicates the mechanism used to perform the observation.

Binding: Observation Methods (Example)

Guidance on how to interpret the value by comparison to a normal or recommended range.

The specimen that was used when this observation was made.

The patient, or group of patients, location, or device whose characteristics (direct or indirect) are described by the observation and into whose record the observation is placed. Comments: Indirect characteristics may be those of a specimen, fetus, donor, other observer (for example a relative or EMT), or any observation made about the subject.