Handling vital-signs
FHIR defines vital-signs as:
Clinical observations measure the body's basic functions such as blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, height, weight, body mass index, head circumference, pulse oximetry, temperature, and body surface area.
While the provider should make every effort to ensure they are providing accurate information, there are certain conventions that are preferred within GP practice which are articulated within the table below.
Note: It is preferred that the value displayed to the user be rounded up if displaying to a decimal place that is less than the recorded value.
Conventions
All units of measure use the Value set: UCUM for vital-signs.
| Observation | Preferred unit of measure | Display decimal places |
|---|---|---|
| Height | cm (centimeter) |
0 decimal places |
| Weight | kg (kilogram) |
1 decimal place |
| Pulse | {beats}/min (beats per minute) |
0 decimal places |
| Blood pressure | [mmHg] (millimeter of mercury) |
0 decimal places |
| Temperature | Cel (Celsius) |
1 decimal place |
| Body Mass Index (BMI) | kg/m^2 (kilogram per meter squared) |
1 decimal place |