Stream: implementers
Topic: ConceptMap $translate operation clarification
Diederik Muylwyk (Mar 29 2018 at 14:21):
Hello!
Looking at the $translate operation for ConceptMap (https://www.hl7.org/fhir/conceptmap-operations.html#translate), there are two definitions:
URL: [base]/ConceptMap/$translate URL: [base]/ConceptMap/[id]/$translate
What is the purpose of the second definition if this operation isn't performed on a specific ConceptMap resource?
Peter Jordan (Mar 29 2018 at 18:53):
My interpretation is that if the id of a ConceptMap is passed in a request the $translate operation is performed using the ConceptMap resource with that id.
Diederik Muylwyk (Mar 29 2018 at 19:10):
Hi, Peter.
I generally agree with you but I don't understand how this particular operation can be performed on a ConceptMap resource.
A concept map defines a mapping from a set of concepts defined in a code system to one or more concepts defined in other code systems.
Performing the $translate operation would be facilitated by the contents of a ConceptMap; however, the resource itself would remain unchanged.
...
Hah. I see you edited your initial message to read "is performed using the ConceptMap resource with that id" (emphasis mine).
Should this constrain the mapping to source and target concepts defined only in the identified ConceptMap? I could (for example) include only a source concept (parameter code) in the request, and the implementation should use ConceptMap.sourceUri and ConceptMap.targetUri to complete the mapping?
Could you tell me a use case for using a specific ConceptMap resource?
Grahame Grieve (Mar 29 2018 at 19:44):
if you don't nominate a specific concept map, the server will look through the known concept maps based on your provided source and target information, and look for a translation. That's probably the more general use case. but some users do not like the uncertainty there, and wish to nominate the exact concept map that is to be used
Peter Jordan (Mar 29 2018 at 19:49):
An example of where a specific concept map might be requested is where different versions of a map exist on a Terminology Server (e.g. there are variations of the Read to SNOMED CT mappings).
Diederik Muylwyk (Mar 29 2018 at 19:56):
Thank you, Grahame and Peter. : )
Michael Lawley (Apr 04 2018 at 04:03):
Indeed, there are many "SNOMED to ICD10" maps, built for different purposes and with different contexts and intents. If several of these are stored on a server, it would be "not useful" to have the server use them all
Diederik Muylwyk (Apr 11 2018 at 14:43):
Thanks, Michael!
Last updated: Apr 12 2022 at 19:14 UTC
