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 shown hin the table below.
Note: It is preferred that the value displayed to the user is 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
ObservationHeight
Preferred unit of measurecm (centimeter)
Display decimal places0 decimal places
ObservationWeight
Preferred unit of measurekg (kilogram)
Display decimal places1 decimal place
ObservationPulse
Preferred unit of measure{beats}/min (beats per minute)
Display decimal places0 decimal places
ObservationBlood pressure
Preferred unit of measure[mmHg] (millimeter of mercury)
Display decimal places0 decimal places
ObservationTemperature
Preferred unit of measureCel (Celsius)
Display decimal places1 decimal place
ObservationBody Mass Index (BMI)
Preferred unit of measurekg/m^2 (kilogram per meter squared)