The URL pointing to a FHIR-defined protocol, guideline, orderset or other definition that is adhered to in whole or in part by this ServiceRequest.

Note: This is a business identifier, not a resource identifier (see discussion). It is best practice for the identifier to only appear on a single resource instance, however business practices may occasionally dictate that multiple resource instances with the same identifier can exist - possibly even with different resource types. For example, multiple Patient and a Person resource instance might share the same social insurance number.

The URL pointing to an externally maintained protocol, guideline, orderset or other definition that is adhered to in whole or in part by this ServiceRequest.

This might be an HTML page, PDF, etc. or could just be a non-resolvable URI identifier.

Plan/proposal/order fulfilled by this request.

The request takes the place of the referenced completed or terminated request(s).

A shared identifier common to all service requests that were authorized more or less simultaneously by a single author, representing the composite or group identifier.

Some business processes need to know if multiple items were ordered as part of the same "requisition" for billing or other purposes.

Requests are linked either by a "basedOn" relationship (i.e. one request is fulfilling another) or by having a common requisition. Requests that are part of the same requisition are generally treated independently from the perspective of changing their state or maintaining them after initial creation.

The status of the order.

The status is generally fully in the control of the requester - they determine whether the order is draft or active and, after it has been activated, competed, cancelled or suspended. States relating to the activities of the performer are reflected on either the corresponding event (see Event Pattern for general discussion) or using the Task resource.

The status of a service order.

Whether the request is a proposal, plan, an original order or a reflex order.

This element is labeled as a modifier because the intent alters when and how the resource is actually applicable.

The kind of service request.

A code that classifies the service for searching, sorting and display purposes (e.g. "Surgical Procedure").

Used for filtering what service request are retrieved and displayed.

There may be multiple axis of categorization depending on the context or use case for retrieving or displaying the resource. The level of granularity is defined by the category concepts in the value set.

Classification of the requested service.

Indicates how quickly the ServiceRequest should be addressed with respect to other requests.

If missing, this task should be performed with normal priority

Identifies the level of importance to be assigned to actioning the request.

Set this to true if the record is saying that the service/procedure should NOT be performed.

Used for do not ambulate, do not elevate head of bed, do not flush NG tube, do not take blood pressure on a certain arm, etc.

In general, only the code and timeframe will be present, though occasional additional qualifiers such as body site or even performer could be included to narrow the scope of the prohibition. If the ServiceRequest.code and ServiceRequest.doNotPerform both contain negation, that will reinforce prohibition and should not have a double negative interpretation.

If missing, the request is a positive request e.g. "do perform"

A code that identifies a particular service (i.e., procedure, diagnostic investigation, or panel of investigations) that have been requested.

Many laboratory and radiology procedure codes embed the specimen/organ system in the test order name, for example, serum or serum/plasma glucose, or a chest x-ray. The specimen might not be recorded separately from the test code.

Codes for tests or services that can be carried out by a designated individual, organization or healthcare service. For laboratory, LOINC is (preferred)[http://build.fhir.org/terminologies.html#preferred] and a valueset using LOINC Order codes is available here.

Additional details and instructions about the how the services are to be delivered. For example, and order for a urinary catheter may have an order detail for an external or indwelling catheter, or an order for a bandage may require additional instructions specifying how the bandage should be applied.

For information from the medical record intended to support the delivery of the requested services, use the supportingInformation element.

Codified order entry details which are based on order context.

On whom or what the service is to be performed. This is usually a human patient, but can also be requested on animals, groups of humans or animals, devices such as dialysis machines, or even locations (typically for environmental scans).

An encounter that provides additional information about the healthcare context in which this request is made.

When the request transitioned to being actionable.

The individual who initiated the request and has responsibility for its activation.

This not the dispatcher, but rather who is the authorizer. This element is not intended to handle delegation which would generally be managed through the Provenance resource.

Desired type of performer for doing the requested service.

This is a role, not a participation type. In other words, does not describe the task but describes the capacity. For example, “compounding pharmacy”, “psychiatrist” or “internal referral”.

Indicates specific responsibility of an individual within the care team, such as "Primary physician", "Team coordinator", "Caregiver", etc.

The desired performer for doing the requested service. For example, the surgeon, dermatopathologist, endoscopist, etc.

If multiple performers are present, it is interpreted as a list of alternative performers without any preference regardless of order. If order of preference is needed use the request-performerOrder extension. Use CareTeam to represent a group of performers (for example, Practitioner A and Practitioner B).

The preferred location(s) where the procedure should actually happen in coded or free text form. E.g. at home or nursing day care center.

A location type where services are delivered.

A reference to the the preferred location(s) where the procedure should actually happen. E.g. at home or nursing day care center.

An explanation or justification for why this service is being requested in coded or textual form. This is often for billing purposes. May relate to the resources referred to in supportingInfo.

This element represents why the referral is being made and may be used to decide how the service will be performed, or even if it will be performed at all. Use CodeableConcept.text element if the data is free (uncoded) text as shown in the CT Scan example.

Diagnosis or problem codes justifying the reason for requesting the service investigation.

Insurance plans, coverage extensions, pre-authorizations and/or pre-determinations that may be needed for delivering the requested service.

Additional clinical information about the patient or specimen that may influence the services or their interpretations. This information includes diagnosis, clinical findings and other observations. In laboratory ordering these are typically referred to as "ask at order entry questions (AOEs)". This includes observations explicitly requested by the producer (filler) to provide context or supporting information needed to complete the order. For example, reporting the amount of inspired oxygen for blood gas measurements.

To represent information about how the services are to be delivered use the instructions element.

One or more specimens that the laboratory procedure will use.

Many diagnostic procedures need a specimen, but the request itself is not actually about the specimen. This element is for when the diagnostic is requested on already existing specimens and the request points to the specimen it applies to. Conversely, if the request is entered first with an unknown specimen, then the Specimen resource points to the ServiceRequest.

Anatomic location where the procedure should be performed. This is the target site.

Knowing where the procedure is performed is important for tracking if multiple sites are possible.

Only used if not implicit in the code found in ServiceRequest.code. If the use case requires BodySite to be handled as a separate resource instead of an inline coded element (e.g. to identify and track separately) then use the standard extension procedure-targetBodyStructure.

Codes describing anatomical locations. May include laterality.

Any other notes and comments made about the service request. For example, internal billing notes.

Instructions in terms that are understood by the patient or consumer.

Key events in the history of the request.

This might not include provenances for all versions of the request – only those deemed “relevant” or important. This SHALL NOT include the Provenance associated with this current version of the resource. (If that provenance is deemed to be a “relevant” change, it will need to be added as part of a later update. Until then, it can be queried directly as the Provenance that points to this version using _revinclude All Provenances should have some historical version of this Request as their subject.