--- type: "resource" title: "DeviceAssociation" resource: "DeviceAssociation" --- # DeviceAssociation ## Introduction > **Note to Balloters:** To ensure the DeviceAssociation resource is ready for Normative status, we are seeking ballot comments on the substantive content. The key changes made since R5 include: > > - Collapsed the DeviceAssociation.operation backbone into the other elements (e.g., DeviceAssociation.relationship now includes the operator role). > - DeviceAssociation.category was renamed DeviceAssociation.relationship and given an extensible value set. > - Added DeviceAssociation.associationStatus. > - Updated search parameters to address the changes. ## Scope and Usage Device Association records the relationship between a device and a subject and/or operator. The relationship may be as the owner, patient, operator or custodian of the device. The scope covers all devices including, but not limited to: implantables, wheelchairs, RTLS, personal health and point of care devices, diagnostic, imaging and durable medical equipment. This resource is intended to apply to any delivery environment and discipline where a device association is useful to record. The subjects may include: - **Patient** - the following are often associated with a specific patient: implantables, prosthetics, activity trackers, mobility assistance, care monitoring, etc. - **Group** - some devices may be associated with a family group or treatment group. For example a weight scale or blood pressure cuff. - **Practitioner** - a device that is associated with the practitioner: pager, alert monitor, cell phone, laptop/tablet - **Device** - a device may be associated with another device when it is independent of the focal device. Note: this is different than the containment tree with parent element in the Device resource. For example a RFID tag used to track the location of a wheelchair. - **RelatedPerson** - a device that is associated with another person related to the patient. For example, an alerting device given to a spouse while their partner is in surgery. ## Boundaries and Relationships - **DeviceAssociation** (this resource) - To clarify when tracking the lifecycle and traceability of a device, including assignment or dissociation with a patient, practitioner, location, or another device. - **[Device](device)** - The device that is, e.g., used, placed in or on, or owned by the subject referenced in the DeviceAssociation. - **[DeviceUsage](https://build.fhir.org/ig/HL7/oo-incubator/StructureDefinition-DeviceUsage.html)** when documenting a patient’s use of a device — typically clinical history or their ongoing reliance on the device. - **[Procedure](procedure)** when the device is involved in a clinical action, such as implantation, removal, or adjustment, where details of that intervention need to be recorded. These resources may be used together — for example, a procedure may establish or end an association, while DeviceUsage captures continued patient use. To track changes in settings, the Observation resource can be used, where `Observation.subject` references the Device that the settings apply to. If, e.g., the patient that the Device is associated with needs to be identified, then the DeviceAssociation where `DeviceAssociation.period` includes the `Observation.effective[x]` would have that patient in `DeviceAssociation.subject`. ## Background and Context Provides additional detail on exactly how the resource is to be used ## StructureDefinition ### Elements (Simplified) - **[DeviceAssociation](/deviceassociation-definitions#DeviceAssociation)** [0..*]: - A record of association or dissociation of a device with a subject (e.g. patient) and/or operator - **[DeviceAssociation.identifier](/deviceassociation-definitions#DeviceAssociation.identifier)** [0..*]: [Identifier](/Identifier) Instance identifier - **[DeviceAssociation.device](/deviceassociation-definitions#DeviceAssociation.device)** [1..1]: Reference([Device](/Device)) Reference to the device that is being associated - **[DeviceAssociation.relationship](/deviceassociation-definitions#DeviceAssociation.relationship)** [0..*]: [CodeableConcept](/CodeableConcept) extensible:[deviceassociation-relationship](/valueset-deviceassociation-relationship) Describes the relationship between the device and subject - **[DeviceAssociation.status](/deviceassociation-definitions#DeviceAssociation.status)** [1..1]: [code](/code) required:[deviceassociation-status](/valueset-deviceassociation-status) active | inactive | entered-in-error | unknown - **[DeviceAssociation.statusReason](/deviceassociation-definitions#DeviceAssociation.statusReason)** [0..*]: [CodeableConcept](/CodeableConcept) extensible:[deviceassociation-status-reason](/valueset-deviceassociation-status-reason) The reasons given for the current association status - **[DeviceAssociation.associationStatus](/deviceassociation-definitions#DeviceAssociation.associationStatus)** [0..1]: [CodeableConcept](/CodeableConcept) preferred:[deviceassociation-association-status](/valueset-deviceassociation-association-status) State of the device’s association - **[DeviceAssociation.subject](/deviceassociation-definitions#DeviceAssociation.subject)** [0..1]: [Reference(BiologicallyDerivedProduct](/Reference(BiologicallyDerivedProduct), [CareTeam](/CareTeam), [Device](/Device), [Group](/Group), [Location](/Location), [Medication](/Medication), [NutritionProduct](/NutritionProduct), [Organization](/Organization), [Patient](/Patient), [Practitioner](/Practitioner), [PractitionerRole](/PractitionerRole), [RelatedPerson](/RelatedPerson), [Specimen](/Specimen), [Substance)](/Substance)) The entity(ies) that the device is on or associated with - **[DeviceAssociation.focus](/deviceassociation-definitions#DeviceAssociation.focus)** [0..1]: [Reference(BiologicallyDerivedProduct](/Reference(BiologicallyDerivedProduct), [CareTeam](/CareTeam), [Device](/Device), [Group](/Group), [Location](/Location), [Medication](/Medication), [NutritionProduct](/NutritionProduct), [Organization](/Organization), [Patient](/Patient), [Practitioner](/Practitioner), [PractitionerRole](/PractitionerRole), [RelatedPerson](/RelatedPerson), [Specimen](/Specimen), [Substance)](/Substance)) The target of the association - **[DeviceAssociation.bodyStructure](/deviceassociation-definitions#DeviceAssociation.bodyStructure)** [0..1]: Reference([BodyStructure](/BodyStructure)) Current anatomical location of the device in/on subject - **[DeviceAssociation.period](/deviceassociation-definitions#DeviceAssociation.period)** [0..1]: [Period](/Period) Begin and end dates and times for the device association ## Mappings - [DeviceAssociation Mappings](/deviceassociation-mappings) — 1 mapping entries ## Resource Packs ### list-DeviceAssociation-packs.xml ```xml ``` ## Search Parameters - [device](/deviceassociation-search#device) — **reference** — Search for products that match this code — `DeviceAssociation.device` - [subject](/deviceassociation-search#subject) — **reference** — The identity of the individual(s) or entity for whom to list associations — `DeviceAssociation.subject` - [patient](/deviceassociation-search#patient) — **reference** — The patient associated with the device — `DeviceAssociation.subject.where(resolve() is Patient)` - [focus](/deviceassociation-search#focus) — **reference** — The focus of an association. — `DeviceAssociation.focus` - [identifier](/deviceassociation-search#identifier) — **token** — The identifier of the device association — `DeviceAssociation.identifier` - [status](/deviceassociation-search#status) — **token** — The status of the device associations — `DeviceAssociation.status` - [date](/deviceassociation-search#date) — **date** — Search for associations at or within specific times — `DeviceAssociation.period` - [relationship](/deviceassociation-search#relationship) — **token** — Search for specific device association relationships — `DeviceAssociation.relationship` [Full Search Parameters](/deviceassociation-search) ## Examples - [bp-monitor-association](/deviceassociation-example-bp-monitor-association) — deviceassociation-bp-monitor-association — Blood Pressure Monitor Association During In-Patient Stay - [deviceassociation-example](/deviceassociation-example-deviceassociation-example) — deviceassociation-example - [deviceassociation-examples-header](/deviceassociation-example-deviceassociation-examples-header) — deviceassociation-examples-header - [example](/deviceassociation-example-example) — deviceassociation-example — General DeviceAssociation Example - [implant-association](/deviceassociation-example-implant-association) — deviceassociation-implant-association — Implant Device Assigned to Patient - [lab-device-association](/deviceassociation-example-lab-device-association) — deviceassociation-lab-device-association — Lab Device Calibration by Repair Staff - [robot-association](/deviceassociation-example-robot-association) — deviceassociation-robot-association — Surgical Robot Association - [tablet-association](/deviceassociation-example-tablet-association) — deviceassociation-tablet-association — Tablet Assigned to Practitioner - [wheelchair-association](/deviceassociation-example-wheelchair-association) — deviceassociation-wheelchair-association — Wheelchair Device Association [Full Examples](/deviceassociation-examples)