Stream: implementers
Topic: Use of datatype Identifer
Diane (Jun 02 2021 at 22:23):
I don't know if I have posted this in the correct stream. It concerns the Identifier datatype. In this case, identifiers in a ResearchStudy database, but I guess my question is generalized to the Identifier Datatype in general.
If I have two identifiers (one with a system URL and one contained in a database that is not accessible), would this be the correct syntax)?
"identifier": [ {
"use": "official",
"system": "https://www.generalmedcenter.org/STUDYCAT/medical-studies.html",
"value": "GMC-2021-45612-c",
"assigner": "Study ID from the General Medical Center STUDYCAT system"
},
{"use": "official",
"value": "ORTHO-11111-99999",
"assigner": "External Identifier provided by Ortho Specialty Surgical Supply"
}
}
],
Also, at https://www.hl7.org/fhir/datatypes-definitions.html#Identifier.assigner, there is a note "The Identifier.assigner may omit the .reference element and only contain a .display element reflecting the name or other textual information about the assigning organization."
Do I need to add some sort of display name?
"value": "ORTHO-11111-99999",
"assigner": {
"display": "External Identifier provided by Ortho Specialty Surgical Supply"
}
Lloyd McKenzie (Jun 02 2021 at 22:47):
Note that 'assigner' must be a Reference and is expected to be the organization that assigned the identifier. If you want a 'label' for the identifier, that would go in Identifier.type.text.
Even if it's contained in a database that isn't accessible, that doesn't mean it shouldn't have a system. The system doesn't indicate where to go find the information, it's just a URI for the namespace and ensures the identifier is globally unique. It's nice if the system URI resolves to a webpage that describes what the identifier is or even allows you to look up records based on that identifier, but that's absolutely not required.
Diane (Jun 02 2021 at 23:05):
I agree that a URI for the system is the better approach to be used whenever possible.
Thank you for clarifying the intent of the assigner to be an organization.
I am not sure that I understand the meaning of the note at https://www.hl7.org/fhir/datatypes-definitions.html#Identifier.assigner, saying that the assigner may omit the .reference element. I have only seen references like
a. "https://www.samplehospital.org/Patient/123",
b. "Patient/123"
c. or inline references.
How does one make a reference without using a or b or c if one were opting to use a .display for the reference to the assigner organization?
Is this what is meant?
"assigner": {
"display": "Ortho Specialty Surgical Supply"
}
Richard Townley-O'Neill (Jun 02 2021 at 23:41):
That is it. An example with display can be seen at http://hl7.org/fhir/R4/patient-example.json.html
Diane (Jun 03 2021 at 00:12):
Thank you @Richard Townley-O'Neill for the example. This is a really good example overall of how to use the Identifier.
Last updated: Apr 12 2022 at 19:14 UTC
