Stream: implementers
Topic: Business identifier codesystem
Josh Lamb (Nov 14 2019 at 21:51):
Hello,
What is the best practice for providing business identifiers to FHIR resources? For example, if I wanted to add a health plan member ID as a patient identifier I am not sure what code system would be appropriate for this identifier. In my example the business identifier I am trying to use would not be globally unique but it would stay the same over time. Would I be able to use a code system that is not published, e.g. www.acme.org/patient?
Thanks!
Lloyd McKenzie (Nov 14 2019 at 23:19):
You wouldn't be using a code system, you'd be using an 'identifier system'. I.e. a URI that corresponds to the particular namespace that identifier is drawn from and unique within. It's completely appropriate for each software system that issues identifiers to define Identifeir.system urls for the different types of identifiers they issue.
Josh Lamb (Nov 15 2019 at 18:32):
Thanks for the input. I was assuming that system was always a code system. I did not realize that identifier system was a concept.
Last updated: Apr 12 2022 at 19:14 UTC
