Clinical Tests
Datasets
US Core 6.1.0 maps each USCDI data element onto a FHIR element.
| Dataset | US Core 6.1.0 target profile(s) |
|---|---|
clinical_observations | US Core Observation Clinical Result, US Core Observation Screening Assessment, US Core Simple Observation |
clinical_observations
One row per observation. This dataset carries every USCDI observation that is not a lab result, a vital sign or a social history row: non-lab test results, imaging findings, functional, disability and cognitive status, and SDOH screening answers.
| Column | Required | Format / values | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
patient_identifier | Yes | patient key | MRN-4471903 |
category | Yes | one of the categories below | sdoh |
status | Yes | registered, preliminary, final, amended, corrected, cancelled, entered-in-error, unknown observation-status | final |
loinc_code | Yes | LOINC, with loinc_system | 76504-0 |
value_quantity | If numeric | decimal | 3 |
unit | With value_quantity | UCUM | {score} |
value_string | If free text | text | |
value_code | If coded | SNOMED CT or LOINC code, with value_system | |
data_absent_reason | If there is no result | unknown, asked-declined, not-performed data-absent-reason | |
effective_datetime | Recommended | datetime | 2026-04-18 |
performer_npi | If available | 10 digits | 1407006835 |
panel_id | If available | clinical_observations key of the parent row | CO-1200 |
- Send exactly one of
value_quantity,value_string,value_codeordata_absent_reason. A row with a result and an absent reason contradicts itself; a row with neither cannot become an Observation. data_absent_reasonis how a screening question that was asked but not answered stays in the record. Leaving the row out instead loses the fact that it was asked.panel_idbuilds a panel: the member rows point at the parent row's key, and Payerbox links them as panel members. Only the screening-assessment categories support it, which is the case that needs it: a questionnaire whose answers belong to one instrument.
Categories
category selects the profile, and each profile binds it differently.
| Category | Becomes | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
exam | Clinical Result | a physical exam finding |
imaging | Clinical Result | an imaging result observation, not the report |
procedure | Clinical Result | a result produced by a procedure |
therapy | Clinical Result | a therapy-related result |
activity | Clinical Result | an activity measure |
sdoh | Screening Assessment | a social-determinants screening answer |
functional-status | Screening Assessment | a functional status assessment |
disability-status | Screening Assessment | a disability status assessment |
cognitive-status | Screening Assessment | a cognitive status assessment |
survey | Simple Observation | a survey answer that is none of the above |
Payerbox adds the survey category to every screening assessment, so send only the specific one.
These resources are served by Patient Access, Provider Access, Payer-to-Payer, and Prior Auth.