Make the observation period mandatory

Oct 13, 2025 by thesweetdesigns.com 148 views

Changes Asked by Mail by RIZIV/INAMI: A Comprehensive Analysis

The Belgian healthcare system, like many others, relies heavily on standardized data exchange to ensure seamless communication between healthcare providers. The RIZIV/INAMI, Belgium's social security administration, plays a crucial role in this process. Recently, Tom and Anne, two experts in the field, sent an email to Bart Decuypere, highlighting several changes they believe are necessary to improve the mapping between the CareSets Diabetes model and the Belgian FHIR profiles. In this article, we will delve into the details of their observations and provide a comprehensive analysis of the proposed changes.

The first observation made by Tom and Anne concerns the BeObservationDiabetes resource. They question whether the observation period should be mandatory and whether there might be cases where the period is not known. This is a valid concern, as the observation period is a critical component of the BeObservationDiabetes resource. The effective date, which is a required element, should indeed be 1..1, meaning it must be present in every instance of the resource.

La période d’observation doit-elle obligatoire ?

The observation period is a crucial aspect of the BeObservationDiabetes resource. It represents the time frame during which the observation was made. In some cases, the observation period might not be known, such as when the observation is made in real-time. However, in most cases, the observation period is a required element, and its absence could lead to inconsistencies in the data.

La recorded-date doit être 1 .. 1

The recorded date is another essential element of the BeObservationDiabetes resource. It represents the date and time when the observation was recorded. Like the observation period, the recorded date should be 1..1, meaning it must be present in every instance of the resource.

The second observation made by Tom and Anne concerns the BeDiagnosqticReportDiabetes resource. They point out that the patient/subject is missing from the resource. This is a critical error, as the patient/subject is a required element in every FHIR resource.

Il manque le patient / subject

The patient/subject is a fundamental element of the BeDiagnosqticReportDiabetes resource. It represents the individual to whom the diagnostic report belongs. The absence of this element could lead to inconsistencies in the data and make it difficult to identify the patient to whom the report belongs.

La période d’observation (effective(x) doit être obligatoire donc 1..1

The observation period, which is a required element in the BeObservationDiabetes resource, is also missing from the BeDiagnosqticReportDiabetes resource. This is a critical error, as the observation period is a crucial component of the diagnostic report.

Result : reference vers beObservationDiabetes à la place de beObservation ?

Tom and Anne suggest replacing the reference to beObservation with a reference to beObservationDiabetes. This is a valid suggestion, as the diagnostic report is closely related to the observation, and a reference to the observation would provide more context.

Qu’est-ce que c’est supportingInfo ?

The supportingInfo element is another aspect of the BeDiagnosqticReportDiabetes resource that requires clarification. This element is used to provide additional information about the diagnostic report, such as the laboratory results or the imaging studies. However, the exact meaning and purpose of this element are not clear.

In conclusion, Tom and Anne's observations highlight several critical errors and areas for improvement in the mapping between the CareSets Diabetes model and the Belgian FHIR profiles. The proposed changes, including making the observation period mandatory and replacing the reference to beObservation with a reference to beObservationDiabetes, would significantly improve the accuracy and consistency of the data. We hope that this article has provided a comprehensive analysis of the proposed changes and has shed light on the importance of standardized data exchange in the Belgian healthcare system.

Based on the analysis presented in this article, we recommend the following:

Make the observation period mandatory: The observation period is a critical component of the BeObservationDiabetes resource. Making it mandatory would ensure that the data is accurate and consistent.
Replace the reference to beObservation with a reference to beObservationDiabetes: This would provide more context and improve the accuracy of the data.
Clarify the meaning and purpose of the supportingInfo element: This element is used to provide additional information about the diagnostic report. However, its exact meaning and purpose are not clear.
Review and revise the Belgian FHIR profiles: The proposed changes would significantly improve the accuracy and consistency of the data. However, a thorough review and revision of the Belgian FHIR profiles are necessary to ensure that the changes are implemented correctly.

By implementing these recommendations, we believe that the Belgian healthcare system can improve the accuracy and consistency of the data, leading to better patient outcomes and more efficient healthcare delivery.
Changes Asked by Mail by RIZIV/INAMI: A Q&A Article

In our previous article, we discussed the changes proposed by Tom and Anne, two experts in the field, to improve the mapping between the CareSets Diabetes model and the Belgian FHIR profiles. In this article, we will provide a Q&A section to address some of the most frequently asked questions about the proposed changes.

Q: What is the purpose of the observation period in the BeObservationDiabetes resource?

A: The observation period is a critical component of the BeObservationDiabetes resource. It represents the time frame during which the observation was made. In some cases, the observation period might not be known, such as when the observation is made in real-time. However, in most cases, the observation period is a required element, and its absence could lead to inconsistencies in the data.

Q: Why is the recorded date required in the BeObservationDiabetes resource?

A: The recorded date is another essential element of the BeObservationDiabetes resource. It represents the date and time when the observation was recorded. Like the observation period, the recorded date should be 1..1, meaning it must be present in every instance of the resource.

Q: What is the purpose of the supportingInfo element in the BeDiagnosqticReportDiabetes resource?

A: The supportingInfo element is used to provide additional information about the diagnostic report, such as the laboratory results or the imaging studies. However, the exact meaning and purpose of this element are not clear.

Q: Why is the patient/subject missing from the BeDiagnosqticReportDiabetes resource?

A: The patient/subject is a fundamental element of the BeDiagnosqticReportDiabetes resource. It represents the individual to whom the diagnostic report belongs. The absence of this element could lead to inconsistencies in the data and make it difficult to identify the patient to whom the report belongs.

Q: What are the benefits of making the observation period mandatory in the BeObservationDiabetes resource?

A: Making the observation period mandatory would ensure that the data is accurate and consistent. It would also improve the quality of the data and reduce the risk of errors.

Q: How would replacing the reference to beObservation with a reference to beObservationDiabetes improve the accuracy of the data?

A: Replacing the reference to beObservation with a reference to beObservationDiabetes would provide more context and improve the accuracy of the data. It would also make it easier to identify the patient to whom the report belongs.

Q: What are the next steps in implementing the proposed changes?

A: The next steps in implementing the proposed changes would involve reviewing and revising the Belgian FHIR profiles. This would ensure that the changes are implemented correctly and that the data is accurate and consistent.

In conclusion, the proposed changes to the mapping between the CareSets Diabetes model and the Belgian FHIR profiles would significantly improve the accuracy and consistency of the data. By making the observation period mandatory, replacing the reference to beObservation with a reference to beObservationDiabetes, and clarifying the meaning and purpose of the supportingInfo element, we believe that the Belgian healthcare system can improve the quality of the data and reduce the risk of errors.

Based on the analysis presented in this article, we recommend the following:

Make the observation period mandatory: The observation period is a critical component of the BeObservationDiabetes resource. Making it mandatory would ensure that the data is accurate and consistent.
Replace the reference to beObservation with a reference to beObservationDiabetes: This would provide more context and improve the accuracy of the data.
Clarify the meaning and purpose of the supportingInfo element: This element is used to provide additional information about the diagnostic report. However, its exact meaning and purpose are not clear.
Review and revise the Belgian FHIR profiles: The proposed changes would significantly improve the accuracy and consistency of the data. However, a thorough review and revision of the Belgian FHIR profiles are necessary to ensure that the changes are implemented correctly.