---
type: "resource-definitions"
title: "Communication Definitions"
resource: "Communication"
---

# Communication Definitions

<a id="Communication"></a>

## Communication
A clinical or business level record of information being transmitted or shared

**Definition:** A clinical or business level record of information being transmitted or shared; e.g. an alert that was sent to a responsible provider, a public health agency communication to a provider/reporter in response to a case report for a reportable condition.

**Cardinality:** 0..*

**Mappings:** workflow=Event; w5=workflow.encounter


<a id="Communication.identifier"></a>

## Communication.identifier
Unique identifier

**Definition:** Business identifiers assigned to this communication by the performer or other systems which remain constant as the resource is updated and propagates from server to server.

**Comments:** This is a business identifier, not a resource identifier (see [discussion](resource.html#identifiers)).  It is best practice for the identifier to only appear on a single resource instance, however business practices may occasionally dictate that multiple resource instances with the same identifier can exist - possibly even with different resource types.  For example, multiple Patient and a Person resource instance might share the same social insurance number.

**Requirements:** Allows identification of the communication as it is known by various participating systems and in a way that remains consistent across servers.

**Cardinality:** 0..*

**Type:** [Identifier](/Identifier)

**Summary:** true

**Mappings:** workflow=Event.identifier; w5=FiveWs.identifier


<a id="Communication.basedOn"></a>

## Communication.basedOn
Request fulfilled by this communication

**Definition:** An order, proposal or plan fulfilled in whole or in part by this Communication.

**Aliases:** fulfills

**Cardinality:** 0..*

**Type:** Reference([CarePlan](/CarePlan), [CommunicationRequest](/CommunicationRequest), [DeviceRequest](/DeviceRequest), [MedicationRequest](/MedicationRequest), [NutritionOrder](/NutritionOrder), [ServiceRequest](/ServiceRequest), [Task](/Task), [VisionPrescription](/VisionPrescription))

**Summary:** true

**Mappings:** workflow=Event.basedOn


<a id="Communication.partOf"></a>

## Communication.partOf
Part of referenced event (e.g. Communication, Procedure)

**Definition:** A larger event (e.g. Communication, Procedure) of which this particular communication is a component or step.

**Comments:** The event the communication was part of - e.g. if you disclosed as "part" of counselling, it would be partOf that Procedure.

**Aliases:** container

**Cardinality:** 0..*

**Type:** Reference([Resource](/Resource))

**Summary:** true

**Mappings:** workflow=Event.partOf


<a id="Communication.inResponseTo"></a>

## Communication.inResponseTo
Reply to

**Definition:** Prior communication that this communication is in response to.

**Cardinality:** 0..*

**Type:** Reference([Communication](/Communication))


<a id="Communication.status"></a>

## Communication.status
preparation | in-progress | not-done | on-hold | stopped | completed | entered-in-error | unknown

**Definition:** The status of the transmission.

**Comments:** This element is labeled as a modifier because the status contains the codes aborted and entered-in-error that mark the communication as not currently valid.

**Cardinality:** 1..1

**Type:** [code](/code)

**Binding:** required:[event-status](/valueset-event-status)

**Summary:** true

**Is Modifier:** true (Reason: This element is labelled as a modifier because it is a status element that contains status entered-in-error which means that the resource should not be treated as valid)

**Mappings:** workflow=Event.status; w5=FiveWs.status


<a id="Communication.statusReason"></a>

## Communication.statusReason
Reason for current status

**Definition:** Captures the reason for the current state of the Communication.

**Comments:** This is generally only used for "exception" statuses such as "not-done", "suspended" or "aborted". The reason for performing the event at all is captured in reasonCode, not here.

**Aliases:** Suspended Reason, Cancelled Reason

**Cardinality:** 0..1

**Type:** [CodeableConcept](/CodeableConcept)

**Binding:** example:[communication-not-done-reason](/valueset-communication-not-done-reason)

**Summary:** true

**Mappings:** workflow=Event.statusReason


<a id="Communication.category"></a>

## Communication.category
Message category

**Definition:** The type of message conveyed such as alert, notification, reminder, instruction, etc.

**Comments:** There may be multiple axes of categorization and one communication may serve multiple purposes.

**Cardinality:** 0..*

**Type:** [CodeableConcept](/CodeableConcept)

**Binding:** example:[communication-category](/valueset-communication-category)

**Mappings:** w5=FiveWs.class


<a id="Communication.priority"></a>

## Communication.priority
routine | urgent | asap | stat

**Definition:** Characterizes how quickly the planned or in progress communication must be addressed. Includes concepts such as stat, urgent, routine.

**Comments:** Used to prioritize workflow (such as which communication to read first) when the communication is planned or in progress.

**Meaning if Missing:** If missing, this communication should be treated with normal priority

**Cardinality:** 0..1

**Type:** [code](/code)

**Binding:** required:[request-priority](/valueset-request-priority)

**Summary:** true

**Mappings:** w5=FiveWs.grade


<a id="Communication.medium"></a>

## Communication.medium
A channel of communication

**Definition:** A channel that was used for this communication (e.g. email, fax, SMS).

**Cardinality:** 0..*

**Type:** [CodeableConcept](/CodeableConcept)

**Binding:** example:[v3-ParticipationMode](/valueset-v3-ParticipationMode)


<a id="Communication.subject"></a>

## Communication.subject
Focus of message

**Definition:** The patient or group that was the focus of this communication.

**Aliases:** patient

**Cardinality:** 0..1

**Type:** Reference([Patient](/Patient), [Group](/Group))

**Summary:** true

**Mappings:** workflow=Event.subject; w5=FiveWs.subject


<a id="Communication.topic"></a>

## Communication.topic
Description of the purpose/content

**Definition:** Description of the purpose/content, similar to a subject line in an email.

**Comments:** Communication.topic.text can be used without any codings.

**Cardinality:** 0..1

**Type:** [CodeableConcept](/CodeableConcept)

**Binding:** example:[communication-topic](/valueset-communication-topic)

**Mappings:** w5=FiveWs.context


<a id="Communication.about"></a>

## Communication.about
Resources that pertain to this communication

**Definition:** Other resources that pertain to this communication and to which this communication should be associated.

**Comments:** Don't use Communication.about element when a more specific element exists, such as basedOn or reasonReference.

**Cardinality:** 0..*

**Type:** Reference([Resource](/Resource))

**Mappings:** w5=FiveWs.context


<a id="Communication.encounter"></a>

## Communication.encounter
The Encounter during which this Communication was created

**Definition:** The Encounter during which this Communication was created or to which the creation of this record is tightly associated.

**Comments:** This will typically be the encounter the event occurred within, but some activities may be initiated prior to or after the official completion of an encounter but still be tied to the context of the encounter.

**Cardinality:** 0..1

**Type:** Reference([Encounter](/Encounter))

**Summary:** true

**Mappings:** workflow=Event.encounter; w5=FiveWs.context


<a id="Communication.sent"></a>

## Communication.sent
When sent

**Definition:** The time when this communication was sent.

**Cardinality:** 0..1

**Type:** [dateTime](/dateTime)

**Mappings:** workflow=Event.occurrence[x] {Invariant: maps to period.start}; w5=FiveWs.done[x]


<a id="Communication.received"></a>

## Communication.received
When received

**Definition:** The time when this communication arrived at the destination.

**Cardinality:** 0..1

**Type:** [dateTime](/dateTime)

**Mappings:** workflow=Event.occurrence[x] {Invariant: maps to period.end}; w5=FiveWs.done[x]


<a id="Communication.recipient"></a>

## Communication.recipient
Who the information is shared with

**Definition:** The entity (e.g. person, organization, clinical information system, care team or device) which is the target of the communication.

**Comments:** If receipts need to be tracked by an individual, a separate resource instance will need to be created for each recipient.  Multiple recipient communications are intended where either receipts are not tracked (e.g. a mass mail-out) or a receipt is captured in aggregate (all emails confirmed received by a particular time).

**Cardinality:** 0..*

**Type:** Reference([CareTeam](/CareTeam), [Device](/Device), [Group](/Group), [HealthcareService](/HealthcareService), [Location](/Location), [Organization](/Organization), [Patient](/Patient), [Practitioner](/Practitioner), [PractitionerRole](/PractitionerRole), [RelatedPerson](/RelatedPerson), [Endpoint](/Endpoint))

**Mappings:** workflow=Event.performer.actor; w5=FiveWs.actor


<a id="Communication.sender"></a>

## Communication.sender
Who shares the information

**Definition:** The entity (e.g. person, organization, clinical information system, or device) which is the source of the communication.

**Cardinality:** 0..1

**Type:** Reference([Device](/Device), [Organization](/Organization), [Patient](/Patient), [Practitioner](/Practitioner), [PractitionerRole](/PractitionerRole), [RelatedPerson](/RelatedPerson), [HealthcareService](/HealthcareService), [Endpoint](/Endpoint), [CareTeam](/CareTeam))

**Mappings:** workflow=Event.performer.actor; w5=FiveWs.actor


<a id="Communication.reason"></a>

## Communication.reason
Indication for message

**Definition:** The reason or justification for the communication.

**Comments:** Textual reasons can be captured using reason.concept.text.

**Cardinality:** 0..*

**Type:** [CodeableReference](/CodeableReference)

**Binding:** example:[clinical-findings](/valueset-clinical-findings)

**Summary:** true

**Mappings:** workflow=Event.reason; w5=FiveWs.why[x]; rim=.reasonCode


<a id="Communication.payload"></a>

## Communication.payload
Message payload

**Definition:** Text, attachment(s), or resource(s) that was communicated to the recipient.

**Cardinality:** 0..*

**Type:** [BackboneElement](/BackboneElement)


<a id="Communication.payload.content[x]"></a>

## Communication.payload.content[x]
Message part content

**Definition:** A communicated content (or for multi-part communications, one portion of the communication).

**Comments:** The content can be codified or textual.  As an example of codified content, when working with machine generated communications, the payload may be drawn from a finite, terminology defined set of communications, especially for short, status update kinds of communications where more of a natural language approach isn't appropriate.

If the content isn't codified, contentCodeableConcept.text can be used.  

When using contentCodeableConcept, the CodeableConcept is what is being communicated and is not a categorization of the content.

**Cardinality:** 1..1

**Type:** [Attachment](/Attachment), Reference([Resource](/Resource)), [CodeableConcept](/CodeableConcept)


<a id="Communication.note"></a>

## Communication.note
Comments made about the communication

**Definition:** Additional notes or commentary about the communication by the sender, receiver or other interested parties.

**Cardinality:** 0..*

**Type:** [Annotation](/Annotation)

**Mappings:** workflow=Event.note