生活背景の情報

生活背景に関するObservation（収集したり観察した事実など）の制約プロフィール

A reference to a set of rules that were followed when the resource was constructed, and which must be understood when processing the content. Often, this is a reference to an implementation guide that defines the special rules along with other profiles etc.

Asserting this rule set restricts the content to be only understood by a limited set of trading partners. This inherently limits the usefulness of the data in the long term. However, the existing health eco-system is highly fractured, and not yet ready to define, collect, and exchange data in a generally computable sense. Wherever possible, implementers and/or specification writers should avoid using this element. Often, when used, the URL is a reference to an implementation guide that defines these special rules as part of it's narrative along with other profiles, value sets, etc.

May be used to represent additional information that is not part of the basic definition of the resource and that modifies the understanding of the element that contains it and/or the understanding of the containing element's descendants. Usually modifier elements provide negation or qualification. To make the use of extensions safe and manageable, there is a strict set of governance applied to the definition and use of extensions. Though any implementer is allowed to define an extension, there is a set of requirements that SHALL be met as part of the definition of the extension. Applications processing a resource are required to check for modifier extensions.

Modifier extensions SHALL NOT change the meaning of any elements on Resource or DomainResource (including cannot change the meaning of modifierExtension itself).

There can be no stigma associated with the use of extensions by any application, project, or standard - regardless of the institution or jurisdiction that uses or defines the extensions. The use of extensions is what allows the FHIR specification to retain a core level of simplicity for everyone.

Modifier extensions allow for extensions that cannot be safely ignored to be clearly distinguished from the vast majority of extensions which can be safely ignored. This promotes interoperability by eliminating the need for implementers to prohibit the presence of extensions. For further information, see the definition of modifier extensions.

結果の状態

このリソースは現在有効でないというマークをするコードを含んでいるため、この要素はモディファイアー（修飾的要素）として位置づけられている。

Codes providing the status of an observation.

Need to track the status of individual results. Some results are finalized before the whole report is finalized.

このObservationを分類するコード

【JP Core仕様】基底仕様のカテゴリ「social-history」固定とする

Used for filtering what observations are retrieved and displayed.

このObservationを分類するコード

階層的にカテゴリーを設定することで粒度のレベルを概念定義できる。

Used for filtering what observations are retrieved and displayed.

このObservationの対象を特定するコード

MEDISのJ-MIXの「生活背景情報」（※宗教を除く）

Knowing what kind of observation is being made is essential to understanding the observation.

このObservationの対象となる患者や患者群、機器、場所に関する情報

【JP Core仕様】患者

Observations have no value if you don't know who or what they're about.

取得された結果が臨床的に確定された日時または期間

【JP Core仕様】effectiveDateTime：医療者が確認した日時
effectivePeriod：医療者が確認した期間

Knowing when an observation was deemed true is important to its relevance as well as determining trends.

取得された結果

【JP Core仕様】文字列、コード、数値に限定する

An observation exists to have a value, though it might not if it is in error, or if it represents a group of observations.

このObservationの結果の導出元に関する情報。例えば、画像検査から取得された結果となる場合その導出元となる画像検査結果を示すImagingStudyリソース

【JP Core仕様】導出元の参照リソースにJP_Observation_SocialHistoryを追加

生活背景の情報

生活背景に関するObservation（収集したり観察した事実など）の制約プロフィール

【JP Core仕様】基底仕様のカテゴリ「social-history」固定とする

MEDISのJ-MIXの「生活背景情報」（※宗教を除く）

【JP Core仕様】患者

【JP Core仕様】effectiveDateTime：医療者が確認した日時
effectivePeriod：医療者が確認した期間

【JP Core仕様】文字列、コード、数値に限定する

【JP Core仕様】導出元の参照リソースにJP_Observation_SocialHistoryを追加

生活背景の情報

生活背景に関するObservation（収集したり観察した事実など）の制約プロフィール

The logical id of the resource, as used in the URL for the resource. Once assigned, this value never changes.

The only time that a resource does not have an id is when it is being submitted to the server using a create operation.

The metadata about the resource. This is content that is maintained by the infrastructure. Changes to the content might not always be associated with version changes to the resource.

A reference to a set of rules that were followed when the resource was constructed, and which must be understood when processing the content. Often, this is a reference to an implementation guide that defines the special rules along with other profiles etc.

Asserting this rule set restricts the content to be only understood by a limited set of trading partners. This inherently limits the usefulness of the data in the long term. However, the existing health eco-system is highly fractured, and not yet ready to define, collect, and exchange data in a generally computable sense. Wherever possible, implementers and/or specification writers should avoid using this element. Often, when used, the URL is a reference to an implementation guide that defines these special rules as part of it's narrative along with other profiles, value sets, etc.

The base language in which the resource is written.

Language is provided to support indexing and accessibility (typically, services such as text to speech use the language tag). The html language tag in the narrative applies to the narrative. The language tag on the resource may be used to specify the language of other presentations generated from the data in the resource. Not all the content has to be in the base language. The Resource.language should not be assumed to apply to the narrative automatically. If a language is specified, it should it also be specified on the div element in the html (see rules in HTML5 for information about the relationship between xml:lang and the html lang attribute).

IETF language tag

A human-readable narrative that contains a summary of the resource and can be used to represent the content of the resource to a human. The narrative need not encode all the structured data, but is required to contain sufficient detail to make it "clinically safe" for a human to just read the narrative. Resource definitions may define what content should be represented in the narrative to ensure clinical safety.

Contained resources do not have narrative. Resources that are not contained SHOULD have a narrative. In some cases, a resource may only have text with little or no additional discrete data (as long as all minOccurs=1 elements are satisfied). This may be necessary for data from legacy systems where information is captured as a "text blob" or where text is additionally entered raw or narrated and encoded information is added later.

These resources do not have an independent existence apart from the resource that contains them - they cannot be identified independently, and nor can they have their own independent transaction scope.

This should never be done when the content can be identified properly, as once identification is lost, it is extremely difficult (and context dependent) to restore it again. Contained resources may have profiles and tags In their meta elements, but SHALL NOT have security labels.

May be used to represent additional information that is not part of the basic definition of the resource. To make the use of extensions safe and manageable, there is a strict set of governance applied to the definition and use of extensions. Though any implementer can define an extension, there is a set of requirements that SHALL be met as part of the definition of the extension.

There can be no stigma associated with the use of extensions by any application, project, or standard - regardless of the institution or jurisdiction that uses or defines the extensions. The use of extensions is what allows the FHIR specification to retain a core level of simplicity for everyone.

May be used to represent additional information that is not part of the basic definition of the resource and that modifies the understanding of the element that contains it and/or the understanding of the containing element's descendants. Usually modifier elements provide negation or qualification. To make the use of extensions safe and manageable, there is a strict set of governance applied to the definition and use of extensions. Though any implementer is allowed to define an extension, there is a set of requirements that SHALL be met as part of the definition of the extension. Applications processing a resource are required to check for modifier extensions.

Modifier extensions SHALL NOT change the meaning of any elements on Resource or DomainResource (including cannot change the meaning of modifierExtension itself).

There can be no stigma associated with the use of extensions by any application, project, or standard - regardless of the institution or jurisdiction that uses or defines the extensions. The use of extensions is what allows the FHIR specification to retain a core level of simplicity for everyone.

Modifier extensions allow for extensions that cannot be safely ignored to be clearly distinguished from the vast majority of extensions which can be safely ignored. This promotes interoperability by eliminating the need for implementers to prohibit the presence of extensions. For further information, see the definition of modifier extensions.

このObservationリソースの一意な識別ID

Allows observations to be distinguished and referenced.

このObservationが実施されることになった依頼や計画、提案に関する情報

Allows tracing of authorization for the event and tracking whether proposals/recommendations were acted upon.

このObservationが親イベントの一部を成す要素であるとき、その親イベントに関する情報

ObservationをEncounterにencounter要素を使ってリンクする。もうひとつ別のObservationを参照することについては、以降にあるt Notes　をガイダンスとして参照のこと。

結果の状態

このリソースは現在有効でないというマークをするコードを含んでいるため、この要素はモディファイアー（修飾的要素）として位置づけられている。

Codes providing the status of an observation.

Need to track the status of individual results. Some results are finalized before the whole report is finalized.

このObservationを分類するコード

【JP Core仕様】基底仕様のカテゴリ「social-history」固定とする

Used for filtering what observations are retrieved and displayed.

このObservationを分類するコード

階層的にカテゴリーを設定することで粒度のレベルを概念定義できる。

Used for filtering what observations are retrieved and displayed.

Unique id for the element within a resource (for internal references). This may be any string value that does not contain spaces.

May be used to represent additional information that is not part of the basic definition of the element. To make the use of extensions safe and manageable, there is a strict set of governance applied to the definition and use of extensions. Though any implementer can define an extension, there is a set of requirements that SHALL be met as part of the definition of the extension.

There can be no stigma associated with the use of extensions by any application, project, or standard - regardless of the institution or jurisdiction that uses or defines the extensions. The use of extensions is what allows the FHIR specification to retain a core level of simplicity for everyone.

A reference to a code defined by a terminology system.

Codes may be defined very casually in enumerations, or code lists, up to very formal definitions such as SNOMED CT - see the HL7 v3 Core Principles for more information. Ordering of codings is undefined and SHALL NOT be used to infer meaning. Generally, at most only one of the coding values will be labeled as UserSelected = true.

Allows for alternative encodings within a code system, and translations to other code systems.

Unique id for the element within a resource (for internal references). This may be any string value that does not contain spaces.

May be used to represent additional information that is not part of the basic definition of the element. To make the use of extensions safe and manageable, there is a strict set of governance applied to the definition and use of extensions. Though any implementer can define an extension, there is a set of requirements that SHALL be met as part of the definition of the extension.

There can be no stigma associated with the use of extensions by any application, project, or standard - regardless of the institution or jurisdiction that uses or defines the extensions. The use of extensions is what allows the FHIR specification to retain a core level of simplicity for everyone.

The identification of the code system that defines the meaning of the symbol in the code.

The URI may be an OID (urn:oid:...) or a UUID (urn:uuid:...). OIDs and UUIDs SHALL be references to the HL7 OID registry. Otherwise, the URI should come from HL7's list of FHIR defined special URIs or it should reference to some definition that establishes the system clearly and unambiguously.

Need to be unambiguous about the source of the definition of the symbol.

The version of the code system which was used when choosing this code. Note that a well-maintained code system does not need the version reported, because the meaning of codes is consistent across versions. However this cannot consistently be assured, and when the meaning is not guaranteed to be consistent, the version SHOULD be exchanged.

Where the terminology does not clearly define what string should be used to identify code system versions, the recommendation is to use the date (expressed in FHIR date format) on which that version was officially published as the version date.

A symbol in syntax defined by the system. The symbol may be a predefined code or an expression in a syntax defined by the coding system (e.g. post-coordination).

Need to refer to a particular code in the system.

A representation of the meaning of the code in the system, following the rules of the system.

Need to be able to carry a human-readable meaning of the code for readers that do not know the system.

Indicates that this coding was chosen by a user directly - e.g. off a pick list of available items (codes or displays).

Amongst a set of alternatives, a directly chosen code is the most appropriate starting point for new translations. There is some ambiguity about what exactly 'directly chosen' implies, and trading partner agreement may be needed to clarify the use of this element and its consequences more completely.

This has been identified as a clinical safety criterium - that this exact system/code pair was chosen explicitly, rather than inferred by the system based on some rules or language processing.

A human language representation of the concept as seen/selected/uttered by the user who entered the data and/or which represents the intended meaning of the user.

Very often the text is the same as a displayName of one of the codings.

The codes from the terminologies do not always capture the correct meaning with all the nuances of the human using them, or sometimes there is no appropriate code at all. In these cases, the text is used to capture the full meaning of the source.

このObservationの対象を特定するコード

MEDISのJ-MIXの「生活背景情報」（※宗教を除く）

Knowing what kind of observation is being made is essential to understanding the observation.

このObservationの対象となる患者や患者群、機器、場所に関する情報

【JP Core仕様】患者

Observations have no value if you don't know who or what they're about.

配偶者、親、胎児、ドナーなど、このObservationのsubject要素が実際の対象でない場合、その実際の対象に関する情報

T通常、observationは対象（患者、または患者のグループ、場所、またはデバイス）について行われ、対象とobservationのために直接測定されるものとの区別は、observationコード自体（例：「血糖値」 ）で記述され、この要素を使用して個別に表す必要はない。検体（標本）への参照が必要な場合は、 specimen要素を使用する。リソースの代わりにコードが必要な場合は、人体部位にはbodysite要素を使用するか、標準の拡張機能[focusCode]（extension-observation-focuscode.html）を使用する。

診察や入院など、このObservationが実施されるきっかけとなった診療イベントに関する情報

通常、イベントが発生したEncounterであるが、一部のイベントは、Encounterの正式な完了の前または後に開始される場合があり、その場合でもEncounterのコンテキストに関連付けられている（例：入院前の臨床検査）。

For some observations it may be important to know the link between an observation and a particular encounter.

取得された結果が臨床的に確定された日時または期間

【JP Core仕様】effectiveDateTime：医療者が確認した日時
effectivePeriod：医療者が確認した期間

Knowing when an observation was deemed true is important to its relevance as well as determining trends.

このバージョンのObservationが医療者に提供された日時。通常、結果を確認し検証後に提供される日時

レビューと検証を必要としないobservationの場合、リソース自体の[lastUpdated]（resource-definitions.html＃Meta.lastUpdated）日時と同じになる場合がある。特定の更新のレビューと検証が必要なobservationの場合、新しいバージョンを再度レビューして検証する必要がないような臨床的に重要でない更新がなされたために、リソース自体の「lastUpdated」時間はこれと異なる場合がある。

このObservationの責任者/実施者に関する情報

参照は、実際のFHIRリソースへの参照である必要があり、解決可能（内容に到達可能）である必要がある（アクセス制御、一時的な使用不可などを考慮に入れる）。解決は、URLから取得するか、リソースタイプによって該当する場合は、絶対参照を正規URLとして扱い、ローカルレジストリ/リポジトリで検索することによって行うことができる。

May give a degree of confidence in the observation and also indicates where follow-up questions should be directed.

取得された結果

【JP Core仕様】文字列、コード、数値に限定する

An observation exists to have a value, though it might not if it is in error, or if it represents a group of observations.

このObservationのvalue[x]要素に期待される結果が存在しなかった場合、その理由

ヌル値または例外値は、FHIRオブザベーションで2つの方法で表すことができる。 1つの方法は、それらを値セットに含めて、値の例外を表す方法である。たとえば、血清学的検査の測定値は、「検出された」、「検出されなかった」、「決定的でない」、または「検体が不十分」である可能性がある。別の方法は、実際の観測にvalue要素を使用し、明示的なdataAbsentReason要素を使用して例外的な値を記録することである。たとえば、測定が完了しなかった場合、dataAbsentReasonコード「error」を使用できる。この場合には、観測値は、報告する値がある場合にのみ報告される可能性があることに注意する必要がある。たとえば、差分セルカウント値は> 0の場合にのみ報告される場合がある。これらのオプションのため、nullまたは例外値の一般的な観測値を解釈するにはユースケースの合意が必要である。

Codes specifying why the result (Observation.value[x]) is missing.

For many results it is necessary to handle exceptional values in measurements.

高、低、正常等の結果のカテゴリ分けした評価

「異常フラグ」として呼ばれる検査結果解釈コードが従来から使用されており、その使用はコード化された解釈が関連するような他の場合でも拡大して使われている。多くの場合、1つ以上の単純でコンパクトなコードとして報告され、この要素は、結果の意味や正常かどうかを示すために、レポートや時系列表で結果値の隣に配置されることがよくある。

Codes identifying interpretations of observations.

一部の結果、特に数値結果については、結果の意義を完全に理解するためには解釈コードが必要である。

このObservationに関するコメント

観察（結果）に関する一般的な記述、重要な、予期しない、または信頼できない結果値に関する記述、またはその解釈に関連する場合はそのソースに関する情報が含まれる場合がある。

Need to be able to provide free text additional information.
フリーテキストの追加情報を提供できる必要がある。

対象となった身体部位

Only used if not implicit in code found in Observation.code. In many systems, this may be represented as a related observation instead of an inline component.

If the use case requires BodySite to be handled as a separate resource (e.g. to identify and track separately) then use the standard extension bodySite.

SNOMED CT Body site concepts

このObservationの実施方法

Only used if not implicit in code for Observation.code.

Methods for simple observations.

In some cases, method can impact results and is thus used for determining whether results can be compared or determining significance of results.

このObservationに使われた検体/標本に関する情報

Observation.codeにあるコードで暗黙的に示されない場合にのみ使用する必要がある。検体自体の観察は行われない。観察（観測、検査）対象者に対して実施されるが、多くの場合には対象者から得られた検体に対して実施される。検体が奥の場合に関わるが、それらは常に追跡され、明示的に報告されるとは限らないことに注意すること。またobservationリソースは、検体を明示的に記述するような状況下（診断レポートなど）で使用される場合があることに注意。

このObservationでデータを得るために使われた測定機器に関する情報

これは、結果の送信に関与するデバイス（ゲートウェイなど）を表すことを意図したものではない。そのようなデバイスは、必要に応じてProvenanceリソースを使用して文書化する。

基準範囲との比較による結果の解釈方法のガイダンス

通常の範囲または推奨範囲と比較して値を解釈する方法に関するガイダンス。複数の参照範囲は「OR」として解釈される。つまり、2つの異なるターゲット母集団を表すために、2つの referenceRange要素が使用される。

どの値が「正常」と見なされるかを知ることは、特定の結果の意義を評価するのに役立つ。さまざまなコンテキストに対応するため複数の参照範囲を提供できる必要がある。

Unique id for the element within a resource (for internal references). This may be any string value that does not contain spaces.

May be used to represent additional information that is not part of the basic definition of the element. To make the use of extensions safe and manageable, there is a strict set of governance applied to the definition and use of extensions. Though any implementer can define an extension, there is a set of requirements that SHALL be met as part of the definition of the extension.

There can be no stigma associated with the use of extensions by any application, project, or standard - regardless of the institution or jurisdiction that uses or defines the extensions. The use of extensions is what allows the FHIR specification to retain a core level of simplicity for everyone.

May be used to represent additional information that is not part of the basic definition of the element and that modifies the understanding of the element in which it is contained and/or the understanding of the containing element's descendants. Usually modifier elements provide negation or qualification. To make the use of extensions safe and manageable, there is a strict set of governance applied to the definition and use of extensions. Though any implementer can define an extension, there is a set of requirements that SHALL be met as part of the definition of the extension. Applications processing a resource are required to check for modifier extensions.

Modifier extensions SHALL NOT change the meaning of any elements on Resource or DomainResource (including cannot change the meaning of modifierExtension itself).

There can be no stigma associated with the use of extensions by any application, project, or standard - regardless of the institution or jurisdiction that uses or defines the extensions. The use of extensions is what allows the FHIR specification to retain a core level of simplicity for everyone.

Modifier extensions allow for extensions that cannot be safely ignored to be clearly distinguished from the vast majority of extensions which can be safely ignored. This promotes interoperability by eliminating the need for implementers to prohibit the presence of extensions. For further information, see the definition of modifier extensions.

The value of the low bound of the reference range. The low bound of the reference range endpoint is inclusive of the value (e.g. reference range is >=5 - <=9). If the low bound is omitted, it is assumed to be meaningless (e.g. reference range is <=2.3).

The value of the high bound of the reference range. The high bound of the reference range endpoint is inclusive of the value (e.g. reference range is >=5 - <=9). If the high bound is omitted, it is assumed to be meaningless (e.g. reference range is >= 2.3).

Codes to indicate the what part of the targeted reference population it applies to. For example, the normal or therapeutic range.

This SHOULD be populated if there is more than one range. If this element is not present then the normal range is assumed.

Code for the meaning of a reference range.

Need to be able to say what kind of reference range this is - normal, recommended, therapeutic, etc., - for proper interpretation.

Codes to indicate the target population this reference range applies to. For example, a reference range may be based on the normal population or a particular sex or race. Multiple appliesTo are interpreted as an "AND" of the target populations. For example, to represent a target population of African American females, both a code of female and a code for African American would be used.

This SHOULD be populated if there is more than one range. If this element is not present then the normal population is assumed.

Codes identifying the population the reference range applies to.

Need to be able to identify the target population for proper interpretation.

The age at which this reference range is applicable. This is a neonatal age (e.g. number of weeks at term) if the meaning says so.

Some analytes vary greatly over age.

Text based reference range in an observation which may be used when a quantitative range is not appropriate for an observation. An example would be a reference value of "Negative" or a list or table of "normals".

このObservationに関連する子リソースに関する情報。このObservationに関連する/属するパネル検査や検査セットなどのObservationグループ

この要素を使用する場合、observationには通常、値または関連するリソースのセットのいじれかを含む。その両方を含む場合もある。複数のobservationをグループに一緒にまとめる方法については、以下の[メモ]（observation.html＃obsgrouping）を参照せよ。システムは、[QuestionnaireResponse]（questionnaireresponse.html）からの結果を計算して最終スコアにし、そのスコアをobservationとして表す場合があることに注意。

このObservationの結果の導出元に関する情報。例えば、画像検査から取得された結果となる場合その導出元となる画像検査結果を示すImagingStudyリソース

【JP Core仕様】導出元の参照リソースにJP_Observation_SocialHistoryを追加

複合的な結果。例えば、血圧測定値ではそれを構成する収縮期および拡張期の値の組み合わせ

複数のObservation をグループに一緒にまとめる方法については、以下の[Notes]（observation.html＃notes）を参照すること。

コンポーネントobservation は プライマリobservation としてのobservation リソースの中で同じ属性を共有し、常に単一のobservation の一部として扱われる（つまりそれらは分離可能ではないん）。ただし、プライマリobservationのreference rangeはコンポーネント値に継承されないため、reference rangeは各コンポーネントobservation に適切であれば必要である。

Unique id for the element within a resource (for internal references). This may be any string value that does not contain spaces.

May be used to represent additional information that is not part of the basic definition of the element. To make the use of extensions safe and manageable, there is a strict set of governance applied to the definition and use of extensions. Though any implementer can define an extension, there is a set of requirements that SHALL be met as part of the definition of the extension.

There can be no stigma associated with the use of extensions by any application, project, or standard - regardless of the institution or jurisdiction that uses or defines the extensions. The use of extensions is what allows the FHIR specification to retain a core level of simplicity for everyone.

May be used to represent additional information that is not part of the basic definition of the element and that modifies the understanding of the element in which it is contained and/or the understanding of the containing element's descendants. Usually modifier elements provide negation or qualification. To make the use of extensions safe and manageable, there is a strict set of governance applied to the definition and use of extensions. Though any implementer can define an extension, there is a set of requirements that SHALL be met as part of the definition of the extension. Applications processing a resource are required to check for modifier extensions.

Modifier extensions SHALL NOT change the meaning of any elements on Resource or DomainResource (including cannot change the meaning of modifierExtension itself).

There can be no stigma associated with the use of extensions by any application, project, or standard - regardless of the institution or jurisdiction that uses or defines the extensions. The use of extensions is what allows the FHIR specification to retain a core level of simplicity for everyone.

Modifier extensions allow for extensions that cannot be safely ignored to be clearly distinguished from the vast majority of extensions which can be safely ignored. This promotes interoperability by eliminating the need for implementers to prohibit the presence of extensions. For further information, see the definition of modifier extensions.

Describes what was observed. Sometimes this is called the observation "code".

All code-value and component.code-component.value pairs need to be taken into account to correctly understand the meaning of the observation.

Codes identifying names of simple observations.

Knowing what kind of observation is being made is essential to understanding the observation.

The information determined as a result of making the observation, if the information has a simple value.

Used when observation has a set of component observations. An observation may have both a value (e.g. an Apgar score) and component observations (the observations from which the Apgar score was derived). If a value is present, the datatype for this element should be determined by Observation.code. A CodeableConcept with just a text would be used instead of a string if the field was usually coded, or if the type associated with the Observation.code defines a coded value. For additional guidance, see the Notes section below.

An observation exists to have a value, though it might not if it is in error, or if it represents a group of observations.

Provides a reason why the expected value in the element Observation.component.value[x] is missing.

"Null" or exceptional values can be represented two ways in FHIR Observations. One way is to simply include them in the value set and represent the exceptions in the value. For example, measurement values for a serology test could be "detected", "not detected", "inconclusive", or "test not done".

The alternate way is to use the value element for actual observations and use the explicit dataAbsentReason element to record exceptional values. For example, the dataAbsentReason code "error" could be used when the measurement was not completed. Because of these options, use-case agreements are required to interpret general observations for exceptional values.

Codes specifying why the result (Observation.value[x]) is missing.

For many results it is necessary to handle exceptional values in measurements.

A categorical assessment of an observation value. For example, high, low, normal.

Historically used for laboratory results (known as 'abnormal flag' ), its use extends to other use cases where coded interpretations are relevant. Often reported as one or more simple compact codes this element is often placed adjacent to the result value in reports and flow sheets to signal the meaning/normalcy status of the result.

Codes identifying interpretations of observations.

For some results, particularly numeric results, an interpretation is necessary to fully understand the significance of a result.

Guidance on how to interpret the value by comparison to a normal or recommended range.

Most observations only have one generic reference range. Systems MAY choose to restrict to only supplying the relevant reference range based on knowledge about the patient (e.g., specific to the patient's age, gender, weight and other factors), but this might not be possible or appropriate. Whenever more than one reference range is supplied, the differences between them SHOULD be provided in the reference range and/or age properties.

Knowing what values are considered "normal" can help evaluate the significance of a particular result. Need to be able to provide multiple reference ranges for different contexts.