NP Core Vital Signs Panel

Sets minimum expectations for a vital signs panel in the NP Core. Derives from the FHIR Vital Signs Panel profile, which defines the panel LOINC code (85353-1) as an optional slice and groups individual vital sign observations via hasMember. This profile makes that panel code mandatory.

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Canonical URL: http://fhir.digitalhealth.gov.np/core/StructureDefinition/np-core-vital-signs-panel
Resource / type: Observation
Based on: http://hl7.org/fhir/StructureDefinition/vitalspanel
Claim conformance: Put the canonical URL in meta.profile of each instance.

Required elements

“Always” means the element must be present in every instance. Otherwise it is required only when its parent element is present.

Element	Card.	When
`Observation.status` registered \| preliminary \| final \| amended +	1..1	Always
`Observation.category` Classification of type of observation	1..*	Always
`Observation.category:VSCat` Classification of type of observation	1..1	Always
`Observation.category:VSCat.coding` Code defined by a terminology system	1..*	Always
`Observation.category:VSCat.coding.system` Identity of the terminology system	1..1	Always
`Observation.category:VSCat.coding.code` Symbol in syntax defined by the system	1..1	Always
`Observation.code` Vital Signs Panel	1..1	Always
`Observation.code.coding` Code defined by a terminology system	1..*	Always
`Observation.code.coding:VitalsPanelCode` Code defined by a terminology system	1..1	Always
`Observation.subject` Who and/or what the observation is about	1..1	Always
`Observation.effective[x]` Often just a dateTime for Vital Signs	1..1	Always
`Observation.hasMember` Vital sign observations grouped by this panel	1..*	Always
`Observation.component.code` Type of component observation (code / type)	1..1	If parent present

Must-support elements

If your system has this data it SHALL send it, and receivers SHALL process it. Must-support does not by itself make an element mandatory.

Observation.status
Observation.category
Observation.category:VSCat
Observation.category:VSCat.coding
Observation.category:VSCat.coding.system
Observation.category:VSCat.coding.code
Observation.code
Observation.subject
Observation.encounter
Observation.effective[x]
Observation.value[x]
Observation.dataAbsentReason
Observation.hasMember
Observation.component
Observation.component.code
Observation.component.value[x]
Observation.component.dataAbsentReason

Fixed and pattern values

Element	Value
`Observation.category:VSCat.coding.system`	http://terminology.hl7.org/CodeSystem/observation-category
`Observation.category:VSCat.coding.code`	vital-signs
`Observation.code.coding:VitalsPanelCode.system`	http://loinc.org
`Observation.code.coding:VitalsPanelCode.code`	85353-1

Terminology bindings

required: codes SHALL come from the value set · extensible: use the value set if a suitable code exists · preferred / example: guidance only.

Element	Strength	Value set
`Observation.language`	preferred	http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/languages
`Observation.status`	required	http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/observation-status
`Observation.category`	preferred	http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/observation-category
`Observation.category:VSCat`	preferred	http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/observation-category
`Observation.code`	extensible	http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/observation-vitalsignresult
`Observation.dataAbsentReason`	extensible	http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/data-absent-reason
`Observation.interpretation`	extensible	http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/observation-interpretation
`Observation.bodySite`	example	http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/body-site
`Observation.method`	example	http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/observation-methods
`Observation.referenceRange.type`	preferred	http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/referencerange-meaning
`Observation.referenceRange.appliesTo`	example	http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/referencerange-appliesto
`Observation.component.code`	extensible	http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/observation-vitalsignresult
`Observation.component.value[x]`	extensible	http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/ucum-vitals-common
`Observation.component.dataAbsentReason`	extensible	http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/data-absent-reason
`Observation.component.interpretation`	extensible	http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/observation-interpretation

Rules (invariants)

vs-2 If there is no component or hasMember element then either a value[x] or a data absent reason must be present.

FHIRPath

(component.empty() and hasMember.empty()) implies (dataAbsentReason.exists() or value.exists())

vs-1 if Observation.effective[x] is dateTime and has a value then that value shall be precise to the day

FHIRPath

$this is dateTime implies $this.toString().length() >= 10

obs-3 Must have at least a low or a high or text

FHIRPath

low.exists() or high.exists() or text.exists()

vs-3 If there is no a value a data absent reason must be present

FHIRPath

value.exists() or dataAbsentReason.exists()

Official examples

Observation/ExampleNPCoreVitalSignsPanel

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{
  "resourceType": "Observation",
  "id": "ExampleNPCoreVitalSignsPanel",
  "meta": {
    "profile": [
      "http://fhir.digitalhealth.gov.np/core/StructureDefinition/np-core-vital-signs-panel"
    ]
  },
  "status": "final",
  "category": [
    {
      "coding": [
        {
          "system": "http://terminology.hl7.org/CodeSystem/observation-category",
          "code": "vital-signs",
          "display": "Vital Signs"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "code": {
    "coding": [
      {
        "system": "http://loinc.org",
        "code": "85353-1",
        "display": "Vital signs, weight, height, head circumference, oxygen saturation and BMI panel"
      }
    ]
  },
  "subject": {
    "reference": "Patient/ExampleNPCorePatient"
  },
  "encounter": {
    "reference": "Encounter/ExampleNPCoreEncounter"
  },
  "effectiveDateTime": "2026-05-10T09:15:00+05:45",
  "performer": [
    {
      "reference": "Practitioner/ExampleNPCorePractitioner"
    }
  ],
  "hasMember": [
    {
      "reference": "Observation/ExampleNPCoreHeartRateObservation"
    },
    {
      "reference": "Observation/ExampleNPCoreBodyTemperatureObservation"
    },
    {
      "reference": "Observation/ExampleNPCoreOxygenSaturationObservation"
    },
    {
      "reference": "Observation/ExampleNPCoreBloodPressureObservation"
    },
    {
      "reference": "Observation/ExampleNPCoreBodyWeightObservation"
    }
  ]
}

Narrative (text) removed for readability.