Stream: implementers
Topic: FHIR modelling for diagnostic related reports
frank cao (Aug 11 2021 at 15:05):
For diagnostic related reports, should I use document bundle or US-core DiagnosticReport? Both can support discrete data and I like that DiagnosticReport instance is smaller than a bundle. However, I have other use cases that will require document bundle. Adding DiagnosticReport will require additional implementer support.
Lloyd McKenzie (Aug 11 2021 at 15:18):
In general, you want individual resources available at their respective endpoints (so DiagnosticReport, Observation, etc.) When you post a document Bundle, the data often remains wrapped and unavailable elsewhere. If you need to pass a bunch of stuff at once, you might evaluate transaction. That's not to say that using document Bundles is wrong, only to make sure that's what you really need. It shouldn't be a default assumption.
John Moehrke (Aug 11 2021 at 19:58):
In a situation where there is not a pre-existing solution, it would seem DiagnosticReport is more useful, and purpose specific. It is certainly possible to do the same thing with a Composition.
John Moehrke (Aug 11 2021 at 20:00):
there is some existing discussions that due to the current state of pre-existing solutions that are using documents; that in order to easily find the documentation; regardless of if a DiagnosticReport, Observation, Composition, CDA, or DICOM report; that a DocumentReference could be used simply as an indexing method pointing at where the documentation exists. This seems clumsy, but it would work and the extra DocumentReference resources were not seen as a burden.
frank cao (Aug 12 2021 at 14:16):
I think DocumentReference is good for querying all document types. I'm weighing on pros and cons between document bundle and DiagnosticReport on submitting diagnostic related reports.
Lloyd McKenzie (Aug 12 2021 at 14:18):
If you've got DiagnosticReport and Observations, you definitely want to post them as individual resources. If you don't, no-one will be able to search and retrieve the individual findings
Last updated: Apr 12 2022 at 19:14 UTC
