Condition resource guidance regarding representing a "symptom"

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    • Type: Change Request
    • Resolution: Not Persuasive with Modification
    • Priority: Medium
    • FHIR Core (FHIR)
    • STU3
    • Patient Care
    • STU
    • Condition
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      Patient Care believes the statements add clarity, not ambiguity.

      We will update the following phrase to include:

      e.g. fever, headache may be captured as a Condition before a definitive diagnosis can be discerned by a clinician. By contrast, headache may be captured as an Observation when it contributes to the establishment of a meningitis Condition.

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      Patient Care believes the statements add clarity, not ambiguity. We will update the following phrase to include: e.g. fever, headache may be captured as a Condition before a definitive diagnosis can be discerned by a clinician. By contrast, headache may be captured as an Observation when it contributes to the establishment of a meningitis Condition .
    • Stephen/Rob: 5-0-1
    • Enhancement
    • Non-substantive
    • STU3

      Section 9.2.2 Boundaries and Relationship provides the following guidance regarding how symptoms should be referenced in FHIR:

      The last sentence in the first paragraph adds ambiguity, not clarity: "Such signs and symptoms are typically captured using the Observation resource; although in some cases a persistent symptom, e.g. fever, headache may be captured as a condition before a definitive diagnosis can be discerned by a clinician." The sentence provides a sense of indirection.

      The next two lines continue to add ambiguity:

      Use the Observation resource when a symptom is resolved without long term management, tracking, or when a symptom contributes to the establishment of a condition.

      Use Condition when a symptom requires long term management, tracking, or is used as a proxy for a diagnosis or problem that is not yet determined.

      The phrase or when a symptom contributes to the establishment of a condition significantly blurs the boundary between when to use observation Vs condition.

      Recommend removing the ambiguous language since it adds confusion rather than providing clarity of direction.

            Assignee:
            Unassigned
            Reporter:
            Floyd Eisenberg
            Watchers:
            1 Start watching this issue

              Created:
              Updated:
              Resolved: