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Introduction

This FHIR implementation guide is part of the Dutch FHIR Community's initiative to demonstrate FHIR profiling capabilities through a culturally relevant example. The TulipCare IG focuses on digitizing horticultural healthcare records—specifically for tulips, the Netherlands' most iconic flower—showcasing how FHIR's flexibility can extend beyond traditional healthcare domains.

It provides FHIR-based resources including Profiles, Extensions, CodeSystems, and ValueSets to support the registration, monitoring, and care planning of tulip bulbs in professional growing environments.

Developed for presentation at FHIR DevDays 2025 Amsterdam, this guide demonstrates practical FHIR modeling concepts through a uniquely Dutch lens. Created through collaboration between FHIR experts and horticultural specialists, it serves as both an educational tool and a lighthearted example of FHIR's versatility.

Domain Background

Why Tulips?

The tulip holds a special place in Dutch history and culture. During the "Tulip Mania" of the 1630s, these flowers became the center of the world's first recorded financial bubble, with single bulbs selling for more than the price of a house. Today, the Netherlands remains the world's largest tulip producer, exporting over 2 billion bulbs annually.

This implementation guide playfully reimagines tulip cultivation through a healthcare lens, treating each precious bulb as a "patient" requiring careful monitoring and care. While whimsical in nature, this approach demonstrates serious FHIR modeling concepts including:

• Profile constraints and extensions
• Terminology binding and value set design
• Resource relationships and references
• Proper FHIR naming conventions
• FSH syntax and modern FHIR tooling

Key Use Cases

The TulipCare IG supports several core workflows:

1. Bulb Registration: Standardized identification and classification of tulip varieties
2. Health Monitoring: Tracking growth, conditions, and care interventions
3. Care Planning: Structured documentation of watering, fertilization, and pest control
4. Outcome Tracking: Recording blooming success and bulb propagation

Through these scenarios, implementers can explore FHIR's capabilities while engaging with a uniquely Dutch context that makes learning both practical and enjoyable.

Licensing and Acknowledgments

This specification is licensed under Creative Commons "No Rights Reserved" (CC0).

HL7®, HEALTH LEVEL SEVEN®, FHIR® and the FHIR [FLAME]® are trademarks owned by Health Level Seven International, registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

This implementation guide contains and references intellectual property owned by third parties ("Third Party IP"). Acceptance of these License Terms does not grant any rights with respect to Third Party IP. The licensee alone is responsible for identifying and obtaining any necessary licenses or authorizations to utilize Third Party IP in connection with the specification or otherwise.