Observation | Medplum

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Measurements and simple assertions made about a patient, device or other subject. US Core Profiles related to Observations are as follows:

Elements

Name Required Type Description
identifier Identifier[] Business Identifier for observation
Details
A unique identifier assigned to this observation.
basedOn Reference< CarePlan
partOf Reference< MedicationAdministration
status code registered
category CodeableConcept[] Classification of type of observation
Details
A code that classifies the general type of observation being made.
code CodeableConcept Type of observation (code / type)
Details
Describes what was observed. Sometimes this is called the observation "name".
subject Reference< Patient
focus Reference[] What the observation is about, when it is not about the subject of record
Details
The actual focus of an observation when it is not the patient of record representing something or someone associated with the patient such as a spouse, parent, fetus, or donor.
encounter Reference< Encounter > Healthcare event during which this observation is made
Details
The healthcare event (e.g. a patient and healthcare provider interaction) during which this observation is made.
effective[x] dateTime, Period, Timing, instant Clinically relevant time/time-period for observation
Details
The time or time-period the observed value is asserted as being true.
issued instant Date/Time this version was made available
Details
The date and time this version of the observation was made available to providers.
performer Reference< Practitioner
value[x] Quantity, CodeableConcept, string, boolean, integer, Range, Ratio, SampledData, time, dateTime, Period Actual result
Details
The information determined as a result of making the observation.
dataAbsentReason CodeableConcept Why the result is missing
Details
Provides a reason why the expected value in the element Observation.value[x] is missing.
interpretation CodeableConcept[] High, low, normal, etc.
Details
A categorical assessment of an observation value.
note Annotation[] Comments about the observation
Details
Comments about the observation or the results.
bodySite CodeableConcept Observed body part
Details
Indicates the site on the subject's body where the observation was made.
method CodeableConcept How it was done
Details
Indicates the mechanism used to perform the observation.
specimen Reference< Specimen > Specimen used for this observation
Details
The specimen that was used when this observation was made.
device Reference< Device
referenceRange ObservationReferenceRange[] Provides guide for interpretation
Details
Guidance on how to interpret the value by comparison to a normal or recommended range.
id string Unique id for inter-element referencing
Details
Unique id for the element within a resource.
extension Extension[] Additional content defined by implementations
Details
May be used to represent additional information that is not part of the basic definition of the element.
modifierExtension Extension[] Extensions that cannot be ignored even if unrecognized
Details
May be used to represent additional information that is not part of the basic definition of the element.
low Quantity Low Range, if relevant
Details
The value of the low bound of the reference range.
high Quantity High Range, if relevant
Details
The value of the high bound of the reference range.
type CodeableConcept Reference range qualifier
Details
Codes to indicate the what part of the targeted reference population it applies to.
appliesTo CodeableConcept[] Reference range population
Details
Codes to indicate the target population this reference range applies to.
age Range Applicable age range, if relevant
Details
The age at which this reference range is applicable.
text string Text based reference range in an observation
Details
Text based reference range in an observation.
hasMember Reference< Observation
derivedFrom Reference< DocumentReference
component ObservationComponent[] Component results
Details
Some observations have multiple component observations.
id string Unique id for inter-element referencing
Details
Unique id for the element within a resource.
extension Extension[] Additional content defined by implementations
Details
May be used to represent additional information that is not part of the basic definition of the element.
modifierExtension Extension[] Extensions that cannot be ignored even if unrecognized
Details
May be used to represent additional information that is not part of the basic definition of the element.
code CodeableConcept Type of component observation (code / type)
Details
Describes what was observed.
value[x] Quantity, CodeableConcept, string, boolean, integer, Range, Ratio, SampledData, time, dateTime, Period Actual component result
Details
The information determined as a result of making the observation.
dataAbsentReason CodeableConcept Why the component result is missing
Details
Provides a reason why the expected value in the element Observation.component.value[x] is missing.
interpretation CodeableConcept[] High, low, normal, etc.
Details
A categorical assessment of an observation value.
referenceRange [] Provides guide for interpretation of component result
Details
Guidance on how to interpret the value by comparison to a normal or recommended range.

Search Parameters

Name Type Description Expression
code token The code of the observation type Observation.code
date date Obtained date/time Observation.effective
identifier token The unique id for a particular observation Observation.identifier
patient reference The subject that the observation is about Observation.subject.where((resolve() is Patient))
encounter reference Encounter related to the observation Observation.encounter
based-on reference Reference to the service request. Observation.basedOn
category token The classification of the type of observation Observation.category
combo-code token The code of the observation type or component type Observation.code
combo-value-concept token The value or component value of the observation, if the value is a CodeableConcept Observation.value.ofType(CodeableConcept)
component-code token The component code of the observation type Observation.component.code
component-value-concept token The value of the component observation, if the value is a CodeableConcept Observation.component.value.ofType(CodeableConcept)
data-absent-reason token The reason why the expected value in the element Observation.value[x] is missing Observation.dataAbsentReason
derived-from reference Related measurements the observation is made from Observation.derivedFrom
device reference The Device that generated the observation data. Observation.device
focus reference The focus of an observation when the focus is not the patient of record. Observation.focus
has-member reference Related resource that belongs to the Observation group Observation.hasMember
method token The method used for the observation Observation.method
performer reference Who performed the observation Observation.performer
specimen reference Specimen used for this observation Observation.specimen
status token The status of the observation Observation.status
subject reference The subject that the observation is about Observation.subject
value-concept token The value of the observation, if the value is a CodeableConcept Observation.value.ofType(CodeableConcept)
value-date date The value of the observation, if the value is a date or period of time Observation.value.ofType(dateTime)
value-quantity quantity The value of the observation, if the value is a Quantity Observation.value.ofType(Quantity)
code-value-concept composite Code and coded value parameter pair Observation
component-code-value-concept composite Component code and component coded value parameter pair Observation.component

Inherited Elements

Name Required Type Description
id string Logical id of this artifact
Details
The logical id of the resource, as used in the URL for the resource.
meta Meta Metadata about the resource
Details
The metadata about the resource.
implicitRules uri A set of rules under which this content was created
Details
A reference to a set of rules that were followed when the resource was constructed, and which must be understood when processing the content.
language code Language of the resource content
Details
The base language in which the resource is written.
text Narrative Text summary of the resource, for human interpretation
Details
A human-readable narrative that contains a summary of the resource.
contained Resource[] Contained, inline Resources
Details
These resources do not have an independent existence apart from the resource that contains them.
extension Extension[] Additional content defined by implementations
Details
May be used to represent additional information that is not part of the basic definition of the resource.
modifierExtension Extension[] Extensions that cannot be ignored
Details
May be used to represent additional information that is not part of the basic definition of the resource.