Release 4

This page is part of the FHIR Specification (v4.0.1: R4 - Mixed Normative and STU) in it's permanent home (it will always be available at this URL). 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

4.8 Resource CodeSystem - Content

Vocabulary Work GroupMaturity Level: N Normative (from v4.0.0)Security Category: Anonymous Compartments: Not linked to any defined compartments
This page has been approved as part of an ANSI standard. See the Conformance Package for further details.

The CodeSystem resource is used to declare the existence of and describe a code system or code system supplement and its key properties, and optionally define a part or all of its content.

4.8.1 Scope and Usage

The FHIR terminology specification is based on two key concepts, originally defined in HL7 v3 Core Principles :

  • code system - declares the existence of and describes a code system or code system supplement and its key properties, and optionally defines a part or all of its content. Also known as Ontology, Terminology, or Enumeration
  • value set - specifies a set of codes drawn from one or more code systems, intended for use in a particular context. Value sets link between CodeSystem definitions and their use in coded elements

Code systems define which codes (symbols and/or expressions) exist, and how they are understood. Value sets select a set of codes from one or more code systems to specify which codes can be used in a particular context.

The CodeSystem resource is used to declare the existence of a code system, and its key properties:

  • Identifying URL and version
  • Description, Copyright, publication date, and other metadata
  • Some key properties of the code system itself - e.g. whether it exhibits concept permanence, whether it defines a compositional grammar, and whether the codes that it defines are case sensitive
  • What filters can be used in value sets that use the code system in a ValueSet.compose element
  • What concept properties are defined by the code system

In addition, the CodeSystem resource may list some or all of the concepts in the code system, along with their basic properties (code, display, definition), designations, and additional properties. Code System resources may also be used to define supplements, which extend an existing code system with additional designations and properties.

The CodeSystem resource is not intended to support the process of maintaining code systems. Instead, the focus is on publishing the properties and optionally the content of a code system for use throughout the FHIR eco-system, such as to support value set expansion and validation. Note that the important existing (large) code systems (SNOMED CT, LOINC, RxNorm, ICD family, etc.) all have their own maintenance systems and distribution formats, and CodeSystem is generally not an efficient way to distribute their content, though it is used as one way of declaring the filters and properties associated with those code systems.

4.8.2 Boundaries and Relationships

  • Code systems are used in ValueSet resources
  • The Coding data type refers to CodeSystem resources by their canonical URL
  • The CodeSystem resource design is based, in part, on the code system functionality described in the HL7 CTS 2 specification. A CTS2 server can be used to maintain code systems which are then published using the CodeSystem resource
  • The CodeSystem resource documents the inherent structure and capabilities of code system, whereas the TerminologyCapabilities resource documents what a server hosting the code system is capable of

The CodeSystem resource declares the existence of a code system and its key properties including its preferred identifier. The NamingSystem resource identifies the existence of a code or identifier system, and its possible and preferred identifiers. The key difference between the resources is who creates and manages them - CodeSystem resources are managed by the owner or publisher of the code system, who can properly define the code system features and content. NamingSystem resources, on the other hand, are frequently defined by 3rd parties that encounter the code system in use, and need to describe the use, but do not have the authority to define the features and content. Additionally, there may be multiple authoritative NamingSystem resources for a code system, but ideally there would be only one authoritative CodeSystem resource (identified by its canonical URL) that is provided by the code system publisher, with multiple copies distributed on additional FHIR servers or elsewhere and used where needed.

Both Code System supplements and Concept Maps may be used to define relationships between concepts in different systems. ConceptMaps are assertions of the relationships between different concepts that are associated with particular contexts of use, while CodeSystem supplements are used to define inherent properties and semantics of the concepts in the code system

4.8.3 Background and Context

When using code systems and value sets, proper differentiation between a code system and a value set is important. This is one very common area where significant clinical safety risks occur in practice. Implementers should be familiar with the content in Using Codes in Resources.

4.8.3.1 CodeSystem Identification

A code system has three identifiers. The first two can be used to reference the code system in the FHIR context:

  • CodeSystem.id: The logical id on the system that holds the CodeSystem resource instance - this typically is expected to change as the resource moves from server to server. The location URI is constructed by appending the logical id to the server base address where the instance is found and the resource type. This URI should be a resolvable URL by which the resource instance may be retrieved, usually from a FHIR server, and it may be a relative reference typically to the server base URL.
  • CodeSystem.url: The canonical URL that never changes for this code system - it is the same in every copy. The element is named url rather than uri for legacy reasons and to strongly encourage providing a resolvable URL as the identifier whenever possible. This canonical URL is used to refer to all instances of this particular code system across all servers and systems. Ideally, this URI should be a URL which resolves to the location of the master version of the code system, though this is not always possible.

For example, the code systems published as part of the FHIR specification all have a location ("literal") URI which is the URL where they may be accessed in the FHIR specification itself. However, while a new version of the FHIR specification is being prepared, code systems that are published in the drafts will not be found in the current FHIR specification version.

Because it is common practice to copy (cache) code systems locally, most references to code systems can use either the canonical URL or the location ("literal") URL.

The third code system identifier is used typically for external references to the code system outside of FHIR:

  • CodeSystem.identifier: A system/value pair that is used to identify the code system in other contexts (such as an OID in an HL7 v3 specification)

For further information regarding resource identification, see Resource Identity.

This means that each code system has 2 different URIs that can be used to reference it - its canonical URL (the url element), and its local location from which it may be retrieved (which includes the id element). Because it is common practice to copy (cache) code systems locally, most references to code systems use the canonical URL.

Alternatively, the identifier and version elements may be used to reference this code system in a design, a profile, a CDA template or HL7 v3 message (in the CD data type codeSystem and codeSystemVersion properties). These different contexts may make additional restrictions on the possible values of these elements. The identifier is generally not needed when using code systems in a FHIR context, where the canonical URL is always the focus.

This resource is referenced by Coding, itself, ConceptMap, TerminologyCapabilities and ValueSet

4.8.4 Resource Content

Structure

NameFlagsCard.TypeDescription & Constraintsdoco
.. CodeSystem INDomainResourceDeclares the existence of and describes a code system or code system supplement
+ Warning: Name should be usable as an identifier for the module by machine processing applications such as code generation
+ Rule: Within a code system definition, all the codes SHALL be unique
Elements defined in Ancestors: id, meta, implicitRules, language, text, contained, extension, modifierExtension
... url Σ0..1uriCanonical identifier for this code system, represented as a URI (globally unique) (Coding.system)
... identifier Σ0..*IdentifierAdditional identifier for the code system (business identifier)
... version Σ0..1stringBusiness version of the code system (Coding.version)
... name ΣI0..1stringName for this code system (computer friendly)
... title Σ0..1stringName for this code system (human friendly)
... status ?!Σ1..1codedraft | active | retired | unknown
PublicationStatus (Required)
... experimental Σ0..1booleanFor testing purposes, not real usage
... date Σ0..1dateTimeDate last changed
... publisher Σ0..1stringName of the publisher (organization or individual)
... contact Σ0..*ContactDetailContact details for the publisher
... description 0..1markdownNatural language description of the code system
... useContext ΣTU0..*UsageContextThe context that the content is intended to support
... jurisdiction Σ0..*CodeableConceptIntended jurisdiction for code system (if applicable)
Jurisdiction (Extensible)
... purpose 0..1markdownWhy this code system is defined
... copyright 0..1markdownUse and/or publishing restrictions
... caseSensitive Σ0..1booleanIf code comparison is case sensitive
... valueSet Σ0..1canonical(ValueSet)Canonical reference to the value set with entire code system
... hierarchyMeaning Σ0..1codegrouped-by | is-a | part-of | classified-with
CodeSystemHierarchyMeaning (Required)
... compositional Σ0..1booleanIf code system defines a compositional grammar
... versionNeeded Σ0..1booleanIf definitions are not stable
... content Σ1..1codenot-present | example | fragment | complete | supplement
CodeSystemContentMode (Required)
... supplements Σ0..1canonical(CodeSystem)Canonical URL of Code System this adds designations and properties to
... count Σ0..1unsignedIntTotal concepts in the code system
... filter Σ0..*BackboneElementFilter that can be used in a value set
.... code Σ1..1codeCode that identifies the filter
.... description Σ0..1stringHow or why the filter is used
.... operator Σ1..*code= | is-a | descendent-of | is-not-a | regex | in | not-in | generalizes | exists
FilterOperator (Required)
.... value Σ1..1stringWhat to use for the value
... property Σ0..*BackboneElementAdditional information supplied about each concept
.... code Σ1..1codeIdentifies the property on the concepts, and when referred to in operations
.... uri Σ0..1uriFormal identifier for the property
.... description Σ0..1stringWhy the property is defined, and/or what it conveys
.... type Σ1..1codecode | Coding | string | integer | boolean | dateTime | decimal
PropertyType (Required)
... concept 0..*BackboneElementConcepts in the code system
.... code 1..1codeCode that identifies concept
.... display 0..1stringText to display to the user
.... definition 0..1stringFormal definition
.... designation 0..*BackboneElementAdditional representations for the concept
..... language 0..1codeHuman language of the designation
Common Languages (Preferred but limited to AllLanguages)
..... use 0..1CodingDetails how this designation would be used
Designation Use (Extensible)
..... value 1..1stringThe text value for this designation
.... property 0..*BackboneElementProperty value for the concept
..... code 1..1codeReference to CodeSystem.property.code
..... value[x] 1..1Value of the property for this concept
...... valueCodecode
...... valueCodingCoding
...... valueStringstring
...... valueIntegerinteger
...... valueBooleanboolean
...... valueDateTimedateTime
...... valueDecimaldecimal
.... concept 0..*see conceptChild Concepts (is-a/contains/categorizes)

doco Documentation for this format

UML Diagram (Legend)

CodeSystem (DomainResource)An absolute URI that is used to identify this code system when it is referenced in a specification, model, design or an instance; also called its canonical identifier. This SHOULD be globally unique and SHOULD be a literal address at which at which an authoritative instance of this code system is (or will be) published. This URL can be the target of a canonical reference. It SHALL remain the same when the code system is stored on different servers. This is used in [Coding](datatypes.html#Coding).systemurl : uri [0..1]A formal identifier that is used to identify this code system when it is represented in other formats, or referenced in a specification, model, design or an instanceidentifier : Identifier [0..*]The identifier that is used to identify this version of the code system when it is referenced in a specification, model, design or instance. This is an arbitrary value managed by the code system author and is not expected to be globally unique. For example, it might be a timestamp (e.g. yyyymmdd) if a managed version is not available. There is also no expectation that versions can be placed in a lexicographical sequence. This is used in [Coding](datatypes.html#Coding).versionversion : string [0..1]A natural language name identifying the code system. This name should be usable as an identifier for the module by machine processing applications such as code generationname : string [0..1]A short, descriptive, user-friendly title for the code systemtitle : string [0..1]The date (and optionally time) when the code system resource was created or revised (this element modifies the meaning of other elements)status : code [1..1] « The lifecycle status of an artifact. (Strength=Required)PublicationStatus! »A Boolean value to indicate that this code system is authored for testing purposes (or education/evaluation/marketing) and is not intended to be used for genuine usageexperimental : boolean [0..1]The date (and optionally time) when the code system was published. The date must change when the business version changes and it must change if the status code changes. In addition, it should change when the substantive content of the code system changesdate : dateTime [0..1]The name of the organization or individual that published the code systempublisher : string [0..1]Contact details to assist a user in finding and communicating with the publishercontact : ContactDetail [0..*]A free text natural language description of the code system from a consumer's perspectivedescription : markdown [0..1]The content was developed with a focus and intent of supporting the contexts that are listed. These contexts may be general categories (gender, age, ...) or may be references to specific programs (insurance plans, studies, ...) and may be used to assist with indexing and searching for appropriate code system instancesuseContext : UsageContext [0..*]A legal or geographic region in which the code system is intended to be usedjurisdiction : CodeableConcept [0..*] « Countries and regions within which this artifact is targeted for use. (Strength=Extensible)Jurisdiction ValueSet+ »Explanation of why this code system is needed and why it has been designed as it haspurpose : markdown [0..1]A copyright statement relating to the code system and/or its contents. Copyright statements are generally legal restrictions on the use and publishing of the code systemcopyright : markdown [0..1]If code comparison is case sensitive when codes within this system are compared to each othercaseSensitive : boolean [0..1]Canonical reference to the value set that contains the entire code systemvalueSet : canonical [0..1] « ValueSet »The meaning of the hierarchy of concepts as represented in this resourcehierarchyMeaning : code [0..1] « The meaning of the hierarchy of concepts in a code system. (Strength=Required)CodeSystemHierarchyMeaning! »The code system defines a compositional (post-coordination) grammarcompositional : boolean [0..1]This flag is used to signify that the code system does not commit to concept permanence across versions. If true, a version must be specified when referencing this code systemversionNeeded : boolean [0..1]The extent of the content of the code system (the concepts and codes it defines) are represented in this resource instancecontent : code [1..1] « The extent of the content of the code system (the concepts and codes it defines) are represented in a code system resource. (Strength=Required)CodeSystemContentMode! »The canonical URL of the code system that this code system supplement is adding designations and properties tosupplements : canonical [0..1] « CodeSystem »The total number of concepts defined by the code system. Where the code system has a compositional grammar, the basis of this count is defined by the system stewardcount : unsignedInt [0..1]FilterThe code that identifies this filter when it is used as a filter in [[[ValueSet]]].compose.include.filtercode : code [1..1]A description of how or why the filter is useddescription : string [0..1]A list of operators that can be used with the filteroperator : code [1..*] « The kind of operation to perform as a part of a property based filter. (Strength=Required)FilterOperator! »A description of what the value for the filter should bevalue : string [1..1]PropertyA code that is used to identify the property. The code is used internally (in CodeSystem.concept.property.code) and also externally, such as in property filterscode : code [1..1]Reference to the formal meaning of the property. One possible source of meaning is the [Concept Properties](codesystem-concept-properties.html) code systemuri : uri [0..1]A description of the property- why it is defined, and how its value might be useddescription : string [0..1]The type of the property value. Properties of type "code" contain a code defined by the code system (e.g. a reference to another defined concept)type : code [1..1] « The type of a property value. (Strength=Required)PropertyType! »ConceptDefinitionA code - a text symbol - that uniquely identifies the concept within the code systemcode : code [1..1]A human readable string that is the recommended default way to present this concept to a userdisplay : string [0..1]The formal definition of the concept. The code system resource does not make formal definitions required, because of the prevalence of legacy systems. However, they are highly recommended, as without them there is no formal meaning associated with the conceptdefinition : string [0..1]DesignationThe language this designation is defined forlanguage : code [0..1] « A human language. (Strength=Preferred)CommonLanguages? »A code that details how this designation would be useduse : Coding [0..1] « Details of how a designation would be used. (Strength=Extensible)DesignationUse+ »The text value for this designationvalue : string [1..1]ConceptPropertyA code that is a reference to CodeSystem.property.codecode : code [1..1]The value of this propertyvalue[x] : Type [1..1] « code|Coding|string|integer|boolean|dateTime| decimal »A filter that can be used in a value set compose statement when selecting concepts using a filterfilter[0..*]A property defines an additional slot through which additional information can be provided about a conceptproperty[0..*]Additional representations for the concept - other languages, aliases, specialized purposes, used for particular purposes, etcdesignation[0..*]A property value for this conceptproperty[0..*]Defines children of a concept to produce a hierarchy of concepts. The nature of the relationships is variable (is-a/contains/categorizes) - see hierarchyMeaningconcept[0..*]Concepts that are in the code system. The concept definitions are inherently hierarchical, but the definitions must be consulted to determine what the meanings of the hierarchical relationships areconcept[0..*]

XML Template

<CodeSystem xmlns="http://hl7.org/fhir"> doco
 <!-- from Resource: id, meta, implicitRules, and language -->
 <!-- from DomainResource: text, contained, extension, and modifierExtension -->
 <url value="[uri]"/><!-- 0..1 Canonical identifier for this code system, represented as a URI (globally unique) (Coding.system) -->
 <identifier><!-- 0..* Identifier Additional identifier for the code system (business identifier) --></identifier>
 <version value="[string]"/><!-- 0..1 Business version of the code system (Coding.version) -->
 <name value="[string]"/><!-- ?? 0..1 Name for this code system (computer friendly) -->
 <title value="[string]"/><!-- 0..1 Name for this code system (human friendly) -->
 <status value="[code]"/><!-- 1..1 draft | active | retired | unknown -->
 <experimental value="[boolean]"/><!-- 0..1 For testing purposes, not real usage -->
 <date value="[dateTime]"/><!-- 0..1 Date last changed -->
 <publisher value="[string]"/><!-- 0..1 Name of the publisher (organization or individual) -->
 <contact><!-- 0..* ContactDetail Contact details for the publisher --></contact>
 <description value="[markdown]"/><!-- 0..1 Natural language description of the code system -->
 <useContext><!-- 0..* UsageContext The context that the content is intended to support --></useContext>
 <jurisdiction><!-- 0..* CodeableConcept Intended jurisdiction for code system (if applicable) --></jurisdiction>
 <purpose value="[markdown]"/><!-- 0..1 Why this code system is defined -->
 <copyright value="[markdown]"/><!-- 0..1 Use and/or publishing restrictions -->
 <caseSensitive value="[boolean]"/><!-- 0..1 If code comparison is case sensitive -->
 <valueSet><!-- 0..1 canonical(ValueSet) Canonical reference to the value set with entire code system --></valueSet>
 <hierarchyMeaning value="[code]"/><!-- 0..1 grouped-by | is-a | part-of | classified-with -->
 <compositional value="[boolean]"/><!-- 0..1 If code system defines a compositional grammar -->
 <versionNeeded value="[boolean]"/><!-- 0..1 If definitions are not stable -->
 <content value="[code]"/><!-- 1..1 not-present | example | fragment | complete | supplement -->
 <supplements><!-- 0..1 canonical(CodeSystem) Canonical URL of Code System this adds designations and properties to --></supplements>
 <count value="[unsignedInt]"/><!-- 0..1 Total concepts in the code system -->
 <filter>  <!-- 0..* Filter that can be used in a value set -->
  <code value="[code]"/><!-- 1..1 Code that identifies the filter -->
  <description value="[string]"/><!-- 0..1 How or why the filter is used -->
  <operator value="[code]"/><!-- 1..* = | is-a | descendent-of | is-not-a | regex | in | not-in | generalizes | exists -->
  <value value="[string]"/><!-- 1..1 What to use for the value -->
 </filter>
 <property>  <!-- 0..* Additional information supplied about each concept -->
  <code value="[code]"/><!-- 1..1 Identifies the property on the concepts, and when referred to in operations -->
  <uri value="[uri]"/><!-- 0..1 Formal identifier for the property -->
  <description value="[string]"/><!-- 0..1 Why the property is defined, and/or what it conveys -->
  <type value="[code]"/><!-- 1..1 code | Coding | string | integer | boolean | dateTime | decimal -->
 </property>
 <concept>  <!-- 0..* Concepts in the code system -->
  <code value="[code]"/><!-- 1..1 Code that identifies concept -->
  <display value="[string]"/><!-- 0..1 Text to display to the user -->
  <definition value="[string]"/><!-- 0..1 Formal definition -->
  <designation>  <!-- 0..* Additional representations for the concept -->
   <language value="[code]"/><!-- 0..1 Human language of the designation -->
   <use><!-- 0..1 Coding Details how this designation would be used --></use>
   <value value="[string]"/><!-- 1..1 The text value for this designation -->
  </designation>
  <property>  <!-- 0..* Property value for the concept -->
   <code value="[code]"/><!-- 1..1 Reference to CodeSystem.property.code -->
   <value[x]><!-- 1..1 code|Coding|string|integer|boolean|dateTime|decimal Value of the property for this concept --></value[x]>
  </property>
  <concept><!-- 0..* Content as for CodeSystem.concept Child Concepts (is-a/contains/categorizes) --></concept>
 </concept>
</CodeSystem>

JSON Template

{doco
  "resourceType" : "CodeSystem",
  // from Resource: id, meta, implicitRules, and language
  // from DomainResource: text, contained, extension, and modifierExtension
  "url" : "<uri>", // Canonical identifier for this code system, represented as a URI (globally unique) (Coding.system)
  "identifier" : [{ Identifier }], // Additional identifier for the code system (business identifier)
  "version" : "<string>", // Business version of the code system (Coding.version)
  "name" : "<string>", // C? Name for this code system (computer friendly)
  "title" : "<string>", // Name for this code system (human friendly)
  "status" : "<code>", // R!  draft | active | retired | unknown
  "experimental" : <boolean>, // For testing purposes, not real usage
  "date" : "<dateTime>", // Date last changed
  "publisher" : "<string>", // Name of the publisher (organization or individual)
  "contact" : [{ ContactDetail }], // Contact details for the publisher
  "description" : "<markdown>", // Natural language description of the code system
  "useContext" : [{ UsageContext }], // The context that the content is intended to support
  "jurisdiction" : [{ CodeableConcept }], // Intended jurisdiction for code system (if applicable)
  "purpose" : "<markdown>", // Why this code system is defined
  "copyright" : "<markdown>", // Use and/or publishing restrictions
  "caseSensitive" : <boolean>, // If code comparison is case sensitive
  "valueSet" : { canonical(ValueSet) }, // Canonical reference to the value set with entire code system
  "hierarchyMeaning" : "<code>", // grouped-by | is-a | part-of | classified-with
  "compositional" : <boolean>, // If code system defines a compositional grammar
  "versionNeeded" : <boolean>, // If definitions are not stable
  "content" : "<code>", // R!  not-present | example | fragment | complete | supplement
  "supplements" : { canonical(CodeSystem) }, // Canonical URL of Code System this adds designations and properties to
  "count" : "<unsignedInt>", // Total concepts in the code system
  "filter" : [{ // Filter that can be used in a value set
    "code" : "<code>", // R!  Code that identifies the filter
    "description" : "<string>", // How or why the filter is used
    "operator" : ["<code>"], // R!  = | is-a | descendent-of | is-not-a | regex | in | not-in | generalizes | exists
    "value" : "<string>" // R!  What to use for the value
  }],
  "property" : [{ // Additional information supplied about each concept
    "code" : "<code>", // R!  Identifies the property on the concepts, and when referred to in operations
    "uri" : "<uri>", // Formal identifier for the property
    "description" : "<string>", // Why the property is defined, and/or what it conveys
    "type" : "<code>" // R!  code | Coding | string | integer | boolean | dateTime | decimal
  }],
  "concept" : [{ // Concepts in the code system
    "code" : "<code>", // R!  Code that identifies concept
    "display" : "<string>", // Text to display to the user
    "definition" : "<string>", // Formal definition
    "designation" : [{ // Additional representations for the concept
      "language" : "<code>", // Human language of the designation
      "use" : { Coding }, // Details how this designation would be used
      "value" : "<string>" // R!  The text value for this designation
    }],
    "property" : [{ // Property value for the concept
      "code" : "<code>", // R!  Reference to CodeSystem.property.code
      // value[x]: Value of the property for this concept. One of these 7:
      "valueCode" : "<code>"
      "valueCoding" : { Coding }
      "valueString" : "<string>"
      "valueInteger" : <integer>
      "valueBoolean" : <boolean>
      "valueDateTime" : "<dateTime>"
      "valueDecimal" : <decimal>
    }],
    "concept" : [{ Content as for CodeSystem.concept }] // Child Concepts (is-a/contains/categorizes)
  }]
}

Turtle Template

@prefix fhir: <http://hl7.org/fhir/> .doco


[ a fhir:CodeSystem;
  fhir:nodeRole fhir:treeRoot; # if this is the parser root

  # from Resource: .id, .meta, .implicitRules, and .language
  # from DomainResource: .text, .contained, .extension, and .modifierExtension
  fhir:CodeSystem.url [ uri ]; # 0..1 Canonical identifier for this code system, represented as a URI (globally unique) (Coding.system)
  fhir:CodeSystem.identifier [ Identifier ], ... ; # 0..* Additional identifier for the code system (business identifier)
  fhir:CodeSystem.version [ string ]; # 0..1 Business version of the code system (Coding.version)
  fhir:CodeSystem.name [ string ]; # 0..1 Name for this code system (computer friendly)
  fhir:CodeSystem.title [ string ]; # 0..1 Name for this code system (human friendly)
  fhir:CodeSystem.status [ code ]; # 1..1 draft | active | retired | unknown
  fhir:CodeSystem.experimental [ boolean ]; # 0..1 For testing purposes, not real usage
  fhir:CodeSystem.date [ dateTime ]; # 0..1 Date last changed
  fhir:CodeSystem.publisher [ string ]; # 0..1 Name of the publisher (organization or individual)
  fhir:CodeSystem.contact [ ContactDetail ], ... ; # 0..* Contact details for the publisher
  fhir:CodeSystem.description [ markdown ]; # 0..1 Natural language description of the code system
  fhir:CodeSystem.useContext [ UsageContext ], ... ; # 0..* The context that the content is intended to support
  fhir:CodeSystem.jurisdiction [ CodeableConcept ], ... ; # 0..* Intended jurisdiction for code system (if applicable)
  fhir:CodeSystem.purpose [ markdown ]; # 0..1 Why this code system is defined
  fhir:CodeSystem.copyright [ markdown ]; # 0..1 Use and/or publishing restrictions
  fhir:CodeSystem.caseSensitive [ boolean ]; # 0..1 If code comparison is case sensitive
  fhir:CodeSystem.valueSet [ canonical(ValueSet) ]; # 0..1 Canonical reference to the value set with entire code system
  fhir:CodeSystem.hierarchyMeaning [ code ]; # 0..1 grouped-by | is-a | part-of | classified-with
  fhir:CodeSystem.compositional [ boolean ]; # 0..1 If code system defines a compositional grammar
  fhir:CodeSystem.versionNeeded [ boolean ]; # 0..1 If definitions are not stable
  fhir:CodeSystem.content [ code ]; # 1..1 not-present | example | fragment | complete | supplement
  fhir:CodeSystem.supplements [ canonical(CodeSystem) ]; # 0..1 Canonical URL of Code System this adds designations and properties to
  fhir:CodeSystem.count [ unsignedInt ]; # 0..1 Total concepts in the code system
  fhir:CodeSystem.filter [ # 0..* Filter that can be used in a value set
    fhir:CodeSystem.filter.code [ code ]; # 1..1 Code that identifies the filter
    fhir:CodeSystem.filter.description [ string ]; # 0..1 How or why the filter is used
    fhir:CodeSystem.filter.operator [ code ], ... ; # 1..* = | is-a | descendent-of | is-not-a | regex | in | not-in | generalizes | exists
    fhir:CodeSystem.filter.value [ string ]; # 1..1 What to use for the value
  ], ...;
  fhir:CodeSystem.property [ # 0..* Additional information supplied about each concept
    fhir:CodeSystem.property.code [ code ]; # 1..1 Identifies the property on the concepts, and when referred to in operations
    fhir:CodeSystem.property.uri [ uri ]; # 0..1 Formal identifier for the property
    fhir:CodeSystem.property.description [ string ]; # 0..1 Why the property is defined, and/or what it conveys
    fhir:CodeSystem.property.type [ code ]; # 1..1 code | Coding | string | integer | boolean | dateTime | decimal
  ], ...;
  fhir:CodeSystem.concept [ # 0..* Concepts in the code system
    fhir:CodeSystem.concept.code [ code ]; # 1..1 Code that identifies concept
    fhir:CodeSystem.concept.display [ string ]; # 0..1 Text to display to the user
    fhir:CodeSystem.concept.definition [ string ]; # 0..1 Formal definition
    fhir:CodeSystem.concept.designation [ # 0..* Additional representations for the concept
      fhir:CodeSystem.concept.designation.language [ code ]; # 0..1 Human language of the designation
      fhir:CodeSystem.concept.designation.use [ Coding ]; # 0..1 Details how this designation would be used
      fhir:CodeSystem.concept.designation.value [ string ]; # 1..1 The text value for this designation
    ], ...;
    fhir:CodeSystem.concept.property [ # 0..* Property value for the concept
      fhir:CodeSystem.concept.property.code [ code ]; # 1..1 Reference to CodeSystem.property.code
      # CodeSystem.concept.property.value[x] : 1..1 Value of the property for this concept. One of these 7
        fhir:CodeSystem.concept.property.valueCode [ code ]
        fhir:CodeSystem.concept.property.valueCoding [ Coding ]
        fhir:CodeSystem.concept.property.valueString [ string ]
        fhir:CodeSystem.concept.property.valueInteger [ integer ]
        fhir:CodeSystem.concept.property.valueBoolean [ boolean ]
        fhir:CodeSystem.concept.property.valueDateTime [ dateTime ]
        fhir:CodeSystem.concept.property.valueDecimal [ decimal ]
    ], ...;
    fhir:CodeSystem.concept.concept [ See CodeSystem.concept ], ... ; # 0..* Child Concepts (is-a/contains/categorizes)
  ], ...;
]

Changes since R3

CodeSystem
CodeSystem.identifier
  • Max Cardinality changed from 1 to *
CodeSystem.status
  • Change value set from http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/publication-status to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/publication-status|4.0.1
CodeSystem.experimental
  • No longer marked as Modifier
CodeSystem.valueSet
  • Type changed from uri to canonical(ValueSet)
CodeSystem.hierarchyMeaning
  • Change value set from http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/codesystem-hierarchy-meaning to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/codesystem-hierarchy-meaning|4.0.1
CodeSystem.content
  • Change value set from http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/codesystem-content-mode to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/codesystem-content-mode|4.0.1
CodeSystem.supplements
  • Added Element
CodeSystem.filter.operator
  • Change value set from http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/filter-operator to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/filter-operator|4.0.1
CodeSystem.property.type
  • Change value set from http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/concept-property-type to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/concept-property-type|4.0.1
CodeSystem.concept.designation.language
  • Change binding strength from extensible to preferred
CodeSystem.concept.property.value[x]
  • Add Type decimal

See the Full Difference for further information

This analysis is available as XML or JSON.

See R3 <--> R4 Conversion Maps (status = 4 tests that all execute ok. All tests pass round-trip testing and 3 r3 resources are invalid (0 errors).)

Structure

NameFlagsCard.TypeDescription & Constraintsdoco
.. CodeSystem INDomainResourceDeclares the existence of and describes a code system or code system supplement
+ Warning: Name should be usable as an identifier for the module by machine processing applications such as code generation
+ Rule: Within a code system definition, all the codes SHALL be unique
Elements defined in Ancestors: id, meta, implicitRules, language, text, contained, extension, modifierExtension
... url Σ0..1uriCanonical identifier for this code system, represented as a URI (globally unique) (Coding.system)
... identifier Σ0..*IdentifierAdditional identifier for the code system (business identifier)
... version Σ0..1stringBusiness version of the code system (Coding.version)
... name ΣI0..1stringName for this code system (computer friendly)
... title Σ0..1stringName for this code system (human friendly)
... status ?!Σ1..1codedraft | active | retired | unknown
PublicationStatus (Required)
... experimental Σ0..1booleanFor testing purposes, not real usage
... date Σ0..1dateTimeDate last changed
... publisher Σ0..1stringName of the publisher (organization or individual)
... contact Σ0..*ContactDetailContact details for the publisher
... description 0..1markdownNatural language description of the code system
... useContext ΣTU0..*UsageContextThe context that the content is intended to support
... jurisdiction Σ0..*CodeableConceptIntended jurisdiction for code system (if applicable)
Jurisdiction (Extensible)
... purpose 0..1markdownWhy this code system is defined
... copyright 0..1markdownUse and/or publishing restrictions
... caseSensitive Σ0..1booleanIf code comparison is case sensitive
... valueSet Σ0..1canonical(ValueSet)Canonical reference to the value set with entire code system
... hierarchyMeaning Σ0..1codegrouped-by | is-a | part-of | classified-with
CodeSystemHierarchyMeaning (Required)
... compositional Σ0..1booleanIf code system defines a compositional grammar
... versionNeeded Σ0..1booleanIf definitions are not stable
... content Σ1..1codenot-present | example | fragment | complete | supplement
CodeSystemContentMode (Required)
... supplements Σ0..1canonical(CodeSystem)Canonical URL of Code System this adds designations and properties to
... count Σ0..1unsignedIntTotal concepts in the code system
... filter Σ0..*BackboneElementFilter that can be used in a value set
.... code Σ1..1codeCode that identifies the filter
.... description Σ0..1stringHow or why the filter is used
.... operator Σ1..*code= | is-a | descendent-of | is-not-a | regex | in | not-in | generalizes | exists
FilterOperator (Required)
.... value Σ1..1stringWhat to use for the value
... property Σ0..*BackboneElementAdditional information supplied about each concept
.... code Σ1..1codeIdentifies the property on the concepts, and when referred to in operations
.... uri Σ0..1uriFormal identifier for the property
.... description Σ0..1stringWhy the property is defined, and/or what it conveys
.... type Σ1..1codecode | Coding | string | integer | boolean | dateTime | decimal
PropertyType (Required)
... concept 0..*BackboneElementConcepts in the code system
.... code 1..1codeCode that identifies concept
.... display 0..1stringText to display to the user
.... definition 0..1stringFormal definition
.... designation 0..*BackboneElementAdditional representations for the concept
..... language 0..1codeHuman language of the designation
Common Languages (Preferred but limited to AllLanguages)
..... use 0..1CodingDetails how this designation would be used
Designation Use (Extensible)
..... value 1..1stringThe text value for this designation
.... property 0..*BackboneElementProperty value for the concept
..... code 1..1codeReference to CodeSystem.property.code
..... value[x] 1..1Value of the property for this concept
...... valueCodecode
...... valueCodingCoding
...... valueStringstring
...... valueIntegerinteger
...... valueBooleanboolean
...... valueDateTimedateTime
...... valueDecimaldecimal
.... concept 0..*see conceptChild Concepts (is-a/contains/categorizes)

doco Documentation for this format

UML Diagram (Legend)

CodeSystem (DomainResource)An absolute URI that is used to identify this code system when it is referenced in a specification, model, design or an instance; also called its canonical identifier. This SHOULD be globally unique and SHOULD be a literal address at which at which an authoritative instance of this code system is (or will be) published. This URL can be the target of a canonical reference. It SHALL remain the same when the code system is stored on different servers. This is used in [Coding](datatypes.html#Coding).systemurl : uri [0..1]A formal identifier that is used to identify this code system when it is represented in other formats, or referenced in a specification, model, design or an instanceidentifier : Identifier [0..*]The identifier that is used to identify this version of the code system when it is referenced in a specification, model, design or instance. This is an arbitrary value managed by the code system author and is not expected to be globally unique. For example, it might be a timestamp (e.g. yyyymmdd) if a managed version is not available. There is also no expectation that versions can be placed in a lexicographical sequence. This is used in [Coding](datatypes.html#Coding).versionversion : string [0..1]A natural language name identifying the code system. This name should be usable as an identifier for the module by machine processing applications such as code generationname : string [0..1]A short, descriptive, user-friendly title for the code systemtitle : string [0..1]The date (and optionally time) when the code system resource was created or revised (this element modifies the meaning of other elements)status : code [1..1] « The lifecycle status of an artifact. (Strength=Required)PublicationStatus! »A Boolean value to indicate that this code system is authored for testing purposes (or education/evaluation/marketing) and is not intended to be used for genuine usageexperimental : boolean [0..1]The date (and optionally time) when the code system was published. The date must change when the business version changes and it must change if the status code changes. In addition, it should change when the substantive content of the code system changesdate : dateTime [0..1]The name of the organization or individual that published the code systempublisher : string [0..1]Contact details to assist a user in finding and communicating with the publishercontact : ContactDetail [0..*]A free text natural language description of the code system from a consumer's perspectivedescription : markdown [0..1]The content was developed with a focus and intent of supporting the contexts that are listed. These contexts may be general categories (gender, age, ...) or may be references to specific programs (insurance plans, studies, ...) and may be used to assist with indexing and searching for appropriate code system instancesuseContext : UsageContext [0..*]A legal or geographic region in which the code system is intended to be usedjurisdiction : CodeableConcept [0..*] « Countries and regions within which this artifact is targeted for use. (Strength=Extensible)Jurisdiction ValueSet+ »Explanation of why this code system is needed and why it has been designed as it haspurpose : markdown [0..1]A copyright statement relating to the code system and/or its contents. Copyright statements are generally legal restrictions on the use and publishing of the code systemcopyright : markdown [0..1]If code comparison is case sensitive when codes within this system are compared to each othercaseSensitive : boolean [0..1]Canonical reference to the value set that contains the entire code systemvalueSet : canonical [0..1] « ValueSet »The meaning of the hierarchy of concepts as represented in this resourcehierarchyMeaning : code [0..1] « The meaning of the hierarchy of concepts in a code system. (Strength=Required)CodeSystemHierarchyMeaning! »The code system defines a compositional (post-coordination) grammarcompositional : boolean [0..1]This flag is used to signify that the code system does not commit to concept permanence across versions. If true, a version must be specified when referencing this code systemversionNeeded : boolean [0..1]The extent of the content of the code system (the concepts and codes it defines) are represented in this resource instancecontent : code [1..1] « The extent of the content of the code system (the concepts and codes it defines) are represented in a code system resource. (Strength=Required)CodeSystemContentMode! »The canonical URL of the code system that this code system supplement is adding designations and properties tosupplements : canonical [0..1] « CodeSystem »The total number of concepts defined by the code system. Where the code system has a compositional grammar, the basis of this count is defined by the system stewardcount : unsignedInt [0..1]FilterThe code that identifies this filter when it is used as a filter in [[[ValueSet]]].compose.include.filtercode : code [1..1]A description of how or why the filter is useddescription : string [0..1]A list of operators that can be used with the filteroperator : code [1..*] « The kind of operation to perform as a part of a property based filter. (Strength=Required)FilterOperator! »A description of what the value for the filter should bevalue : string [1..1]PropertyA code that is used to identify the property. The code is used internally (in CodeSystem.concept.property.code) and also externally, such as in property filterscode : code [1..1]Reference to the formal meaning of the property. One possible source of meaning is the [Concept Properties](codesystem-concept-properties.html) code systemuri : uri [0..1]A description of the property- why it is defined, and how its value might be useddescription : string [0..1]The type of the property value. Properties of type "code" contain a code defined by the code system (e.g. a reference to another defined concept)type : code [1..1] « The type of a property value. (Strength=Required)PropertyType! »ConceptDefinitionA code - a text symbol - that uniquely identifies the concept within the code systemcode : code [1..1]A human readable string that is the recommended default way to present this concept to a userdisplay : string [0..1]The formal definition of the concept. The code system resource does not make formal definitions required, because of the prevalence of legacy systems. However, they are highly recommended, as without them there is no formal meaning associated with the conceptdefinition : string [0..1]DesignationThe language this designation is defined forlanguage : code [0..1] « A human language. (Strength=Preferred)CommonLanguages? »A code that details how this designation would be useduse : Coding [0..1] « Details of how a designation would be used. (Strength=Extensible)DesignationUse+ »The text value for this designationvalue : string [1..1]ConceptPropertyA code that is a reference to CodeSystem.property.codecode : code [1..1]The value of this propertyvalue[x] : Type [1..1] « code|Coding|string|integer|boolean|dateTime| decimal »A filter that can be used in a value set compose statement when selecting concepts using a filterfilter[0..*]A property defines an additional slot through which additional information can be provided about a conceptproperty[0..*]Additional representations for the concept - other languages, aliases, specialized purposes, used for particular purposes, etcdesignation[0..*]A property value for this conceptproperty[0..*]Defines children of a concept to produce a hierarchy of concepts. The nature of the relationships is variable (is-a/contains/categorizes) - see hierarchyMeaningconcept[0..*]Concepts that are in the code system. The concept definitions are inherently hierarchical, but the definitions must be consulted to determine what the meanings of the hierarchical relationships areconcept[0..*]

XML Template

<CodeSystem xmlns="http://hl7.org/fhir"> doco
 <!-- from Resource: id, meta, implicitRules, and language -->
 <!-- from DomainResource: text, contained, extension, and modifierExtension -->
 <url value="[uri]"/><!-- 0..1 Canonical identifier for this code system, represented as a URI (globally unique) (Coding.system) -->
 <identifier><!-- 0..* Identifier Additional identifier for the code system (business identifier) --></identifier>
 <version value="[string]"/><!-- 0..1 Business version of the code system (Coding.version) -->
 <name value="[string]"/><!-- ?? 0..1 Name for this code system (computer friendly) -->
 <title value="[string]"/><!-- 0..1 Name for this code system (human friendly) -->
 <status value="[code]"/><!-- 1..1 draft | active | retired | unknown -->
 <experimental value="[boolean]"/><!-- 0..1 For testing purposes, not real usage -->
 <date value="[dateTime]"/><!-- 0..1 Date last changed -->
 <publisher value="[string]"/><!-- 0..1 Name of the publisher (organization or individual) -->
 <contact><!-- 0..* ContactDetail Contact details for the publisher --></contact>
 <description value="[markdown]"/><!-- 0..1 Natural language description of the code system -->
 <useContext><!-- 0..* UsageContext The context that the content is intended to support --></useContext>
 <jurisdiction><!-- 0..* CodeableConcept Intended jurisdiction for code system (if applicable) --></jurisdiction>
 <purpose value="[markdown]"/><!-- 0..1 Why this code system is defined -->
 <copyright value="[markdown]"/><!-- 0..1 Use and/or publishing restrictions -->
 <caseSensitive value="[boolean]"/><!-- 0..1 If code comparison is case sensitive -->
 <valueSet><!-- 0..1 canonical(ValueSet) Canonical reference to the value set with entire code system --></valueSet>
 <hierarchyMeaning value="[code]"/><!-- 0..1 grouped-by | is-a | part-of | classified-with -->
 <compositional value="[boolean]"/><!-- 0..1 If code system defines a compositional grammar -->
 <versionNeeded value="[boolean]"/><!-- 0..1 If definitions are not stable -->
 <content value="[code]"/><!-- 1..1 not-present | example | fragment | complete | supplement -->
 <supplements><!-- 0..1 canonical(CodeSystem) Canonical URL of Code System this adds designations and properties to --></supplements>
 <count value="[unsignedInt]"/><!-- 0..1 Total concepts in the code system -->
 <filter>  <!-- 0..* Filter that can be used in a value set -->
  <code value="[code]"/><!-- 1..1 Code that identifies the filter -->
  <description value="[string]"/><!-- 0..1 How or why the filter is used -->
  <operator value="[code]"/><!-- 1..* = | is-a | descendent-of | is-not-a | regex | in | not-in | generalizes | exists -->
  <value value="[string]"/><!-- 1..1 What to use for the value -->
 </filter>
 <property>  <!-- 0..* Additional information supplied about each concept -->
  <code value="[code]"/><!-- 1..1 Identifies the property on the concepts, and when referred to in operations -->
  <uri value="[uri]"/><!-- 0..1 Formal identifier for the property -->
  <description value="[string]"/><!-- 0..1 Why the property is defined, and/or what it conveys -->
  <type value="[code]"/><!-- 1..1 code | Coding | string | integer | boolean | dateTime | decimal -->
 </property>
 <concept>  <!-- 0..* Concepts in the code system -->
  <code value="[code]"/><!-- 1..1 Code that identifies concept -->
  <display value="[string]"/><!-- 0..1 Text to display to the user -->
  <definition value="[string]"/><!-- 0..1 Formal definition -->
  <designation>  <!-- 0..* Additional representations for the concept -->
   <language value="[code]"/><!-- 0..1 Human language of the designation -->
   <use><!-- 0..1 Coding Details how this designation would be used --></use>
   <value value="[string]"/><!-- 1..1 The text value for this designation -->
  </designation>
  <property>  <!-- 0..* Property value for the concept -->
   <code value="[code]"/><!-- 1..1 Reference to CodeSystem.property.code -->
   <value[x]><!-- 1..1 code|Coding|string|integer|boolean|dateTime|decimal Value of the property for this concept --></value[x]>
  </property>
  <concept><!-- 0..* Content as for CodeSystem.concept Child Concepts (is-a/contains/categorizes) --></concept>
 </concept>
</CodeSystem>

JSON Template

{doco
  "resourceType" : "CodeSystem",
  // from Resource: id, meta, implicitRules, and language
  // from DomainResource: text, contained, extension, and modifierExtension
  "url" : "<uri>", // Canonical identifier for this code system, represented as a URI (globally unique) (Coding.system)
  "identifier" : [{ Identifier }], // Additional identifier for the code system (business identifier)
  "version" : "<string>", // Business version of the code system (Coding.version)
  "name" : "<string>", // C? Name for this code system (computer friendly)
  "title" : "<string>", // Name for this code system (human friendly)
  "status" : "<code>", // R!  draft | active | retired | unknown
  "experimental" : <boolean>, // For testing purposes, not real usage
  "date" : "<dateTime>", // Date last changed
  "publisher" : "<string>", // Name of the publisher (organization or individual)
  "contact" : [{ ContactDetail }], // Contact details for the publisher
  "description" : "<markdown>", // Natural language description of the code system
  "useContext" : [{ UsageContext }], // The context that the content is intended to support
  "jurisdiction" : [{ CodeableConcept }], // Intended jurisdiction for code system (if applicable)
  "purpose" : "<markdown>", // Why this code system is defined
  "copyright" : "<markdown>", // Use and/or publishing restrictions
  "caseSensitive" : <boolean>, // If code comparison is case sensitive
  "valueSet" : { canonical(ValueSet) }, // Canonical reference to the value set with entire code system
  "hierarchyMeaning" : "<code>", // grouped-by | is-a | part-of | classified-with
  "compositional" : <boolean>, // If code system defines a compositional grammar
  "versionNeeded" : <boolean>, // If definitions are not stable
  "content" : "<code>", // R!  not-present | example | fragment | complete | supplement
  "supplements" : { canonical(CodeSystem) }, // Canonical URL of Code System this adds designations and properties to
  "count" : "<unsignedInt>", // Total concepts in the code system
  "filter" : [{ // Filter that can be used in a value set
    "code" : "<code>", // R!  Code that identifies the filter
    "description" : "<string>", // How or why the filter is used
    "operator" : ["<code>"], // R!  = | is-a | descendent-of | is-not-a | regex | in | not-in | generalizes | exists
    "value" : "<string>" // R!  What to use for the value
  }],
  "property" : [{ // Additional information supplied about each concept
    "code" : "<code>", // R!  Identifies the property on the concepts, and when referred to in operations
    "uri" : "<uri>", // Formal identifier for the property
    "description" : "<string>", // Why the property is defined, and/or what it conveys
    "type" : "<code>" // R!  code | Coding | string | integer | boolean | dateTime | decimal
  }],
  "concept" : [{ // Concepts in the code system
    "code" : "<code>", // R!  Code that identifies concept
    "display" : "<string>", // Text to display to the user
    "definition" : "<string>", // Formal definition
    "designation" : [{ // Additional representations for the concept
      "language" : "<code>", // Human language of the designation
      "use" : { Coding }, // Details how this designation would be used
      "value" : "<string>" // R!  The text value for this designation
    }],
    "property" : [{ // Property value for the concept
      "code" : "<code>", // R!  Reference to CodeSystem.property.code
      // value[x]: Value of the property for this concept. One of these 7:
      "valueCode" : "<code>"
      "valueCoding" : { Coding }
      "valueString" : "<string>"
      "valueInteger" : <integer>
      "valueBoolean" : <boolean>
      "valueDateTime" : "<dateTime>"
      "valueDecimal" : <decimal>
    }],
    "concept" : [{ Content as for CodeSystem.concept }] // Child Concepts (is-a/contains/categorizes)
  }]
}

Turtle Template

@prefix fhir: <http://hl7.org/fhir/> .doco


[ a fhir:CodeSystem;
  fhir:nodeRole fhir:treeRoot; # if this is the parser root

  # from Resource: .id, .meta, .implicitRules, and .language
  # from DomainResource: .text, .contained, .extension, and .modifierExtension
  fhir:CodeSystem.url [ uri ]; # 0..1 Canonical identifier for this code system, represented as a URI (globally unique) (Coding.system)
  fhir:CodeSystem.identifier [ Identifier ], ... ; # 0..* Additional identifier for the code system (business identifier)
  fhir:CodeSystem.version [ string ]; # 0..1 Business version of the code system (Coding.version)
  fhir:CodeSystem.name [ string ]; # 0..1 Name for this code system (computer friendly)
  fhir:CodeSystem.title [ string ]; # 0..1 Name for this code system (human friendly)
  fhir:CodeSystem.status [ code ]; # 1..1 draft | active | retired | unknown
  fhir:CodeSystem.experimental [ boolean ]; # 0..1 For testing purposes, not real usage
  fhir:CodeSystem.date [ dateTime ]; # 0..1 Date last changed
  fhir:CodeSystem.publisher [ string ]; # 0..1 Name of the publisher (organization or individual)
  fhir:CodeSystem.contact [ ContactDetail ], ... ; # 0..* Contact details for the publisher
  fhir:CodeSystem.description [ markdown ]; # 0..1 Natural language description of the code system
  fhir:CodeSystem.useContext [ UsageContext ], ... ; # 0..* The context that the content is intended to support
  fhir:CodeSystem.jurisdiction [ CodeableConcept ], ... ; # 0..* Intended jurisdiction for code system (if applicable)
  fhir:CodeSystem.purpose [ markdown ]; # 0..1 Why this code system is defined
  fhir:CodeSystem.copyright [ markdown ]; # 0..1 Use and/or publishing restrictions
  fhir:CodeSystem.caseSensitive [ boolean ]; # 0..1 If code comparison is case sensitive
  fhir:CodeSystem.valueSet [ canonical(ValueSet) ]; # 0..1 Canonical reference to the value set with entire code system
  fhir:CodeSystem.hierarchyMeaning [ code ]; # 0..1 grouped-by | is-a | part-of | classified-with
  fhir:CodeSystem.compositional [ boolean ]; # 0..1 If code system defines a compositional grammar
  fhir:CodeSystem.versionNeeded [ boolean ]; # 0..1 If definitions are not stable
  fhir:CodeSystem.content [ code ]; # 1..1 not-present | example | fragment | complete | supplement
  fhir:CodeSystem.supplements [ canonical(CodeSystem) ]; # 0..1 Canonical URL of Code System this adds designations and properties to
  fhir:CodeSystem.count [ unsignedInt ]; # 0..1 Total concepts in the code system
  fhir:CodeSystem.filter [ # 0..* Filter that can be used in a value set
    fhir:CodeSystem.filter.code [ code ]; # 1..1 Code that identifies the filter
    fhir:CodeSystem.filter.description [ string ]; # 0..1 How or why the filter is used
    fhir:CodeSystem.filter.operator [ code ], ... ; # 1..* = | is-a | descendent-of | is-not-a | regex | in | not-in | generalizes | exists
    fhir:CodeSystem.filter.value [ string ]; # 1..1 What to use for the value
  ], ...;
  fhir:CodeSystem.property [ # 0..* Additional information supplied about each concept
    fhir:CodeSystem.property.code [ code ]; # 1..1 Identifies the property on the concepts, and when referred to in operations
    fhir:CodeSystem.property.uri [ uri ]; # 0..1 Formal identifier for the property
    fhir:CodeSystem.property.description [ string ]; # 0..1 Why the property is defined, and/or what it conveys
    fhir:CodeSystem.property.type [ code ]; # 1..1 code | Coding | string | integer | boolean | dateTime | decimal
  ], ...;
  fhir:CodeSystem.concept [ # 0..* Concepts in the code system
    fhir:CodeSystem.concept.code [ code ]; # 1..1 Code that identifies concept
    fhir:CodeSystem.concept.display [ string ]; # 0..1 Text to display to the user
    fhir:CodeSystem.concept.definition [ string ]; # 0..1 Formal definition
    fhir:CodeSystem.concept.designation [ # 0..* Additional representations for the concept
      fhir:CodeSystem.concept.designation.language [ code ]; # 0..1 Human language of the designation
      fhir:CodeSystem.concept.designation.use [ Coding ]; # 0..1 Details how this designation would be used
      fhir:CodeSystem.concept.designation.value [ string ]; # 1..1 The text value for this designation
    ], ...;
    fhir:CodeSystem.concept.property [ # 0..* Property value for the concept
      fhir:CodeSystem.concept.property.code [ code ]; # 1..1 Reference to CodeSystem.property.code
      # CodeSystem.concept.property.value[x] : 1..1 Value of the property for this concept. One of these 7
        fhir:CodeSystem.concept.property.valueCode [ code ]
        fhir:CodeSystem.concept.property.valueCoding [ Coding ]
        fhir:CodeSystem.concept.property.valueString [ string ]
        fhir:CodeSystem.concept.property.valueInteger [ integer ]
        fhir:CodeSystem.concept.property.valueBoolean [ boolean ]
        fhir:CodeSystem.concept.property.valueDateTime [ dateTime ]
        fhir:CodeSystem.concept.property.valueDecimal [ decimal ]
    ], ...;
    fhir:CodeSystem.concept.concept [ See CodeSystem.concept ], ... ; # 0..* Child Concepts (is-a/contains/categorizes)
  ], ...;
]

Changes since Release 3

CodeSystem
CodeSystem.identifier
  • Max Cardinality changed from 1 to *
CodeSystem.status
  • Change value set from http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/publication-status to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/publication-status|4.0.1
CodeSystem.experimental
  • No longer marked as Modifier
CodeSystem.valueSet
  • Type changed from uri to canonical(ValueSet)
CodeSystem.hierarchyMeaning
  • Change value set from http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/codesystem-hierarchy-meaning to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/codesystem-hierarchy-meaning|4.0.1
CodeSystem.content
  • Change value set from http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/codesystem-content-mode to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/codesystem-content-mode|4.0.1
CodeSystem.supplements
  • Added Element
CodeSystem.filter.operator
  • Change value set from http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/filter-operator to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/filter-operator|4.0.1
CodeSystem.property.type
  • Change value set from http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/concept-property-type to http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/concept-property-type|4.0.1
CodeSystem.concept.designation.language
  • Change binding strength from extensible to preferred
CodeSystem.concept.property.value[x]
  • Add Type decimal

See the Full Difference for further information

This analysis is available as XML or JSON.

See R3 <--> R4 Conversion Maps (status = 4 tests that all execute ok. All tests pass round-trip testing and 3 r3 resources are invalid (0 errors).)

 

See the Profiles & Extensions and the alternate definitions: Master Definition XML + JSON, XML Schema/Schematron + JSON Schema, ShEx (for Turtle) + see the extensions & the dependency analysis

4.8.4.1 Terminology Bindings

PathDefinitionTypeReference
CodeSystem.status The lifecycle status of an artifact.RequiredPublicationStatus
CodeSystem.jurisdiction Countries and regions within which this artifact is targeted for use.ExtensibleJurisdiction ValueSet
CodeSystem.hierarchyMeaning The meaning of the hierarchy of concepts in a code system.RequiredCodeSystemHierarchyMeaning
CodeSystem.content The extent of the content of the code system (the concepts and codes it defines) are represented in a code system resource.RequiredCodeSystemContentMode
CodeSystem.filter.operator The kind of operation to perform as a part of a property based filter.RequiredFilterOperator
CodeSystem.property.type The type of a property value.RequiredPropertyType
CodeSystem.concept.designation.language A human language.Preferred, but limited to AllLanguagesCommonLanguages
CodeSystem.concept.designation.use Details of how a designation would be used.ExtensibleDesignationUse

4.8.4.2 Constraints

idLevelLocationDescriptionExpression
csd-0Warning (base)Name should be usable as an identifier for the module by machine processing applications such as code generationname.matches('[A-Z]([A-Za-z0-9_]){0,254}')
csd-1Rule (base)Within a code system definition, all the codes SHALL be uniqueconcept.code.combine($this.descendants().concept.code).isDistinct()

4.8.5 Versioning Code Systems

Most code systems evolve over time, due to corrections, clarifications, and changes to approach or underlying knowledge or reality. If these changes lead to the meanings of existing codes changing significantly, then the interpretation of the code system becomes version dependent. This significantly complicates implementation based on the code system, to the point where it is not clear that safety can be assured, so changing the meaning of an existing code SHOULD be avoided whenever possible. It is preferable to assign a new identifier to a code system when any concepts in it have a significant change in meaning (for example, the German diagnostic classification code system ICD10GM2009 has a different system to ICD10GM2008), but this also can have substantial impact on implementation, so is often not practical - for instance, SNOMED CT has a complex version release framework, which may lead to variations in meaning of concepts, but there is only one identifier for SNOMED CT.

For this reason, a code system MAY provide a version identifier which can be specified in CodeSystem.version. The version specific identifier SHOULD be provided whenever there are potentially significant changes in meaning across multiple releases of a code system. There is no particular format requirement for the version identifier, though HL7 recommends a date-based approach.

When the CodeSystem.versionNeeded is 'true', then the version identifier SHALL be used in Coding instances that refer to the code system.

Where the terminology does not clearly define what string should be used to identify code system versions, the recommendation is to use as the version string the date (expressed in FHIR date format) on which the version of the code system that is being used was officially published.

4.8.6 Multi-part Code Systems

The simple case for a code system is that the entire code system - all the concepts and their codes, designations and properties are distributed in a single CodeSystem resource. However, for a variety of reasons, code systems may be distributed by the code system authority in a set of fragments, and other authorities may issue additional designations and properties in supplements.

4.8.7 Code System Fragments

If the CodeSystem.content value is fragment, then the resource describes part of a code system.

Code Systems may be distributed in fragments for the following reasons:

  • Different IP distribution rules for different parts of the code system
  • Special purpose modules for specific purposes
  • Distribution of proposed content for evaluation

The following rules apply to code system fragments:

  • All fragments SHALL have the same CodeSystem.url
  • Fragments can only be published by the code system authority, or according to a process defined by the authority, if they have defined one
  • Fragments cannot contain any codes, concepts or properties that would not be found in a complete representation of the code system, if one exists
  • Publishing a code system in multiple fragments can create confusion for terminology servers and terminology service consumers. Code System authorities that publish fragments should be careful and communicate their intent clearly

4.8.8 Code System Supplements

If the CodeSystem.content value is supplement, then the resource describes a code system supplement. The following rules apply to code system supplements:

  • The CodeSystem.supplements element SHALL have a value, which is the URL of the code system being supplemented
  • The CodeSystem.url for a supplement SHALL never appear in a Coding.system
  • The CodeSystem.url for a supplement must be under the control of the authority creating or publishing the supplement (e.g. not in the same space as the code system being supplemented, unless the supplement is being issued by the same authority as the original code system
  • A codesystem supplement cannot define any new CodeSystem.concept.code. i.e.: all CodeSystem.concept.code in the supplement must be a code from the "supplemented" code system

If a supplement needs to define new concepts/codes to use as property values, it can be paired with a new (possibly contained) Code System and use the Coding type for the property values.

The impact of Code System supplements on value set expansion - and therefore value set validation - is subject to ongoing experimentation and implementation testing, and further clarification and additional rules might be proposed in future versions of this specification.

4.8.9 Display, Definition and Designations

Concepts have both a display and a definition. The display is a short text that represents the meaning of the concept to human users, while the definition is a more formal statement of the meaning of the concept, which is often longer. All concepts SHOULD have a display and a definition, though it is not mandatory because there are many cases where no such properties are provided, in spite of their utility and importance for clear and safe communication.

In addition to the display and definition, a concept can have one or more designation elements. The display is equivalent to a special designation with an implied designation.use meaning "primary code/designation" and a language equal to the Resource Language. The designations can provide additional displays for other language, as well as designations for other purposes. When using concepts, applications use the display and designation unless the language or usage in context provides a reason to use one of the designations.

4.8.10 Properties

Each code system can define one or more concept properties. Each concept defined by the code system may have one or more values for each concept property defined by the code system. Typical uses for properties include:

  • Tracking administrative status (inactive, deprecation date)
  • Providing additional statements about the meaning of the concept
  • Defining structured relationships with other concepts in the code system
  • Assigning scoring values to the concepts

Properties are identified by their master URI (CodeSystem.property.uri), and then, by their code (CodeSystem.property.code), which is used both internally within the code system resource (CodeSystem.concept.property.code) and also externally, in the following places:

  • ConceptMap: ConceptMap.element.target.dependsOn.property and ConceptMap.element.target.product.property
  • ValueSet: ValueSet.compose.include.filter.property can refer to any defined code system property
  • $lookup operation: In Parameters.parameter.name when returning information about a code
  • $translate operation: In Parameters.parameter.part.name for dependencies and products
  • $find-matches operation: In Parameters.parameter.name when providing codes, and in Parameters.parameter.name when asking for codes

Properties are defined using the following elements:

Name Details Description
code code Used to identify the property, in the places shown in the list immediately above this table
uri optional uri Reference to the formal meaning of the property. One possible source of meaning is the Concept Properties code system. This part of the definition is optional, but is recommended to provide an additional level of definitional consistency
description optional string A description of the property- why it is defined, and how its value might be used
type code | Coding | string | integer | boolean | dateTime The type of the property value. Properties of type "code" contain a code defined by the code system (e.g. a reference to another defined concept)

Note that properties provide a common view of concept relationships that is common across all code systems. Some code systems define properties with more sophistication, such as groups of properties, or subsumption relationships between properties (e.g. SNOMED CT). Servers providing support for these code systems will need to know full details about the underlying relationships in order to provide the correct information about concepts and their properties, but this information does not surface in the resources or operations defined by the FHIR specification.

4.8.11 Concept Status

Many Code Systems have a 'status' associated with the concept. This may categorize the concept as:

  • Experimental - provided for trial, but may be removed in the future
  • Active - in normal use
  • Deprecated - planned to be removed from use
  • Retired - still present for historical reasons, but no longer allowed to be used

There is wide variation in the life cycles supported by the different code systems, the words they use to describe the various status values they use, and some code systems have additional status values. HL7 uses Active and Retired. In addition to these status codes, concepts may also be labeled as "Abstract' (not to be used in some circumstances), and have dates associated with their retirement or deprecation. All this information is represented as properties of the concepts. In order to assist with consistency between code systems, the following basic property URIs are defined:

http://hl7.org/fhir/concept-properties#status : codeA property that indicates the status of the concept. If the property is identified by this URL, then it SHALL use at least these status values (where appropriate):
  • active - the concept is for normal use
  • experimental - provided for trial, but may be removed in the future
  • deprecated - planned to be removed from use
  • retired - still present for historical reasons, but no longer allowed to be used
The HL7 defined code systems (whether defined by the FHIR project, the V3 framework, or the V2 standard) all use this property to define their status. HL7 uses "active" (and considers this the default status), and deprecated and retired (= inactive)
http://hl7.org/fhir/concept-properties#retirementDate : dateDate Concept was retired
http://hl7.org/fhir/concept-properties#deprecationDate : dateDate Concept was deprecated
http://hl7.org/fhir/concept-properties#parent : codeAn immediate parent of the concept in the hierarchy
http://hl7.org/fhir/concept-properties#child : codeAn immediate child of the concept in the hierarchy
http://hl7.org/fhir/concept-properties#notSelectable : booleanThis concept is a grouping concept and not intended to be used in the normal use of the code system (though may be used for filters etc.). This is also known as 'Abstract'

The parent and child properties are used when performing concept lookup (using the $lookup operation), and when using properties to indicate parent/child relationships (see below).

4.8.12 Concept Hierarchy

Code systems may be presented hierarchically, using nested concept elements, where the hierarchy has a defined meaning specified in hierarchyMeaning. The code system hierarchy is a single tree, where concepts have only one parent.

Some code systems define concepts that have multiple parents. If a code system has concepts like this (typically, concepts that are subsumed by more than one other concept), the code system SHOULD NOT be represented using the hierarchy structure in the Code System resource, and the relationships between concepts should be defined using properties. If the hierarchy is used, implementers SHALL use a property to indicate additional parents that are not represented in the structural (nested concepts) hierarchy.

Operations based on the codeSystem resource SHALL have the same result whether or not the relationships are represented explicitly as properties or implicitly using the CodeSystem resource hierarchy.

4.8.13 Subsumption Testing

The words 'subsume', 'subsumes', 'subsumed' and 'subsumption' are defined in relation to the type of hierarchy (i.e. the value of CodeSystem.hierarchyMeaning) identified for the code system that is being represented by the CodeSystem resource. Concept A is considered to be subsumed by Concept B if it comes under Concept B in the hierarchy, or if a parent/child relationship is declared in the properties, and the hierarchyMeaning is "is-a").

Where a CodeSystem does not declare its hierarchy meaning directly, then the code system documentation must be consulted manually to determine how subsumption is determined. If there is no definition, none of the subsumption based features can be used with the code system.

Subsumption based logic arises explicitly or implicitly in the following places in the FHIR specification:

4.8.14 Filters

The following filters are defined for all code systems:

Property Name Operation Value Definition Notes
[property] = [string] Includes all codes that have a property value equal to the specified string, where [property] is the code for any defined property
[property] in [string,string...] Includes all codes that have a property value equal to one of the specified strings, where [property] is the code for any defined property The values cannot include ",", since it is being used as a delimiter

This draft section about the relationships between rich terminologies and structured content is still undergoing review.

4.8.15 Implicit Code Systems

Some other parts of the FHIR infrastructure define set of concepts that may also be treated as code systems. This is most useful when mapping between systems using Concept Maps, but might also be useful for other code system related functionality (e.g. subsetting use Value Sets). This table summarizes how to treat these items as a terminology:

StructureDefinition The StructureDefinition.url (canonical URL) is the system. Each .snapshot.element.id in the snapshot is a code in the code system
Questionnaire The Questionnaire.url (canonical URL) is the system. Each .item.linkId in the snapshot is a code in the code system. Items with no linkId cannot be addressed
Medication Medication resources are a bit different, since they don't have a canonical URL, and there are not multiple items in a resource. So to refer to a medication resource, the system is [base]/Medication, where base is the server address. The Logical Id of the resource is the code

The use of these implicit code systems is not yet well tested, so this section remains informative.

For medications, the relationship between the code system and the medication resource is complex. Many medication related code systems (e.g. RxNorm, DM+D, AMT, etc.) represent more complex information than just code, display name and code system. These often contain information about the content of the medication A similar principle applies to observation definitions, which overlap significantly with LOINC and other related code systems, which contain a set of observation definitions, that contain methods, units, etc. Other similar arrangements exist for Location and many other kinds of resource.

In FHIR, these are handled by splitting the concept into two distinct parts - the Terminology, (Code System & ValueSet resources) is used to manage the codes, display names and relationships. A separate "detail" resource (e.g., Medication resource instances for RxNorm code details, ObservationDefinition instances for LOINC code details, or Location, etc.) is used to convey detailed information (dose form & strength, allowed data type or permitted values, address & hours of operation, etc.). One "detail" resource instance is created for each code.

This division accomplishes several things:

  • It allows generic systems that support terminology management to perform standard terminology operations on code systems dealing with complex structures - code lookup, validation, subsumption testing, mapping and translation.
  • It allows information to be exchanged about individual medications, data elements and locations. Codes can't be retrieved individually in FHIR - it is necessary to retrieve the entire resource. By packaging the detailed information in separate resources, independent retrieval and update is possible.
  • It supports use-cases for sharing medication, location, observation type and similar information in circumstances where the code may be unknown, unavailable or occasionally non-existent (e.g., custom compounds, non-registered locations). Having a distinct resource supports these capabilities, which would not be possible using CodeSystem/ValueSet.

Note that this division in FHIR does not imply that a similar division is required in the internal representation used by systems exposing a FHIR interface. Similarly, some systems may choose to only expose or maintain one aspect of such information types (i.e. only the discrete resource instances or only the value set).

The linkage between the "detail" resource and the Terminology resources is accomplished via the code element (or equivalent) on the detail resource. As well, the "name" or "title" on the detail resource generally corresponds with the display name on the matching code. Most detail resources will also have an "identifier" element. This can be set to the same value and namespace as the code, but if the only identifier a resource has is its defining code, it may be better to omit the identifier entirely. .

4.8.16 Search Parameters

Search parameters for this resource. The common parameters also apply. See Searching for more information about searching in REST, messaging, and services.

NameTypeDescriptionExpressionIn Common
code TUtokenA code defined in the code systemCodeSystem.concept.code
content-mode TUtokennot-present | example | fragment | complete | supplementCodeSystem.content
context TUtokenA use context assigned to the code system(CodeSystem.useContext.value as CodeableConcept)
context-quantity TUquantityA quantity- or range-valued use context assigned to the code system(CodeSystem.useContext.value as Quantity) | (CodeSystem.useContext.value as Range)
context-type TUtokenA type of use context assigned to the code systemCodeSystem.useContext.code
context-type-quantity TUcompositeA use context type and quantity- or range-based value assigned to the code systemOn CodeSystem.useContext:
  context-type: code
  context-quantity: value.as(Quantity) | value.as(Range)
context-type-value TUcompositeA use context type and value assigned to the code systemOn CodeSystem.useContext:
  context-type: code
  context: value.as(CodeableConcept)
date TUdateThe code system publication dateCodeSystem.date
description TUstringThe description of the code systemCodeSystem.description
identifier TUtokenExternal identifier for the code systemCodeSystem.identifier
jurisdiction TUtokenIntended jurisdiction for the code systemCodeSystem.jurisdiction
language TUtokenA language in which a designation is providedCodeSystem.concept.designation.language
name TUstringComputationally friendly name of the code systemCodeSystem.name
publisher TUstringName of the publisher of the code systemCodeSystem.publisher
status TUtokenThe current status of the code systemCodeSystem.status
supplements TUreferenceFind code system supplements for the referenced code systemCodeSystem.supplements
(CodeSystem)
system TUuriThe system for any codes defined by this code system (same as 'url')CodeSystem.url
title TUstringThe human-friendly name of the code systemCodeSystem.title
url TUuriThe uri that identifies the code systemCodeSystem.url
version TUtokenThe business version of the code systemCodeSystem.version