BeObservationLaboratory.category

[ArdonToonstra]

The Dutch profiles for LaboratoryTestResults define a mandatory .categegory element containing the FHIR terminology to indicate that the Observation is of the category 'laboratory' like:

{
  "coding": [
    {
      "system": "http://terminology.hl7.org/CodeSystem/observation-category",
      "code": "laboratory"
    }
  ]
}

This may be helpful for sorting, indexing, and searching, primarily when multiple use cases are implemented that use the Observation resource. What is HL7 BE's opinion about this?

The Nictiz profiles:

• Nictiz STU3 profile
• Nictiz R4 profile in draft

[ArdonToonstra]

In addition, this category code has also been made mandatory by the US Core profiles: http://hl7.org/fhir/us/core/STU5.0.1/StructureDefinition-us-core-observation-lab.html

[bdc-ehealth]

At the moment we only have a similar indication on the level of the Composition and the Diagnostic Report.

[bdc-ehealth]

The CoW group does not recommended but will not oppose if it is optional.

[bdc-ehealth]

WG: for secondary data use, or any other uses, a new format can be created, or the current one can be reused without changes. Other use cases are not blocked by the current situation.