---
type: "resource-definitions"
title: "profile-vitalsigns Definitions"
resource: "profile-vitalsigns"
---

# profile-vitalsigns Definitions

<a id="Observation"></a>

## Observation
FHIR Vital Signs Base Profile

**Definition:** The FHIR Vitals Signs base profile sets minimum expectations for the Observation resource to record, search and fetch the vital signs associated with a patient.

**Aliases:** Vital Signs, Measurement, Results, Tests

**Constraints:** vsp-1 | error | if Observation.effective[x] (as dateTime) has a value then that value shall be precise at least to the day | (effective as dateTime).toString().length() >= 8; vsp-2 | error | If there is no component or hasMember element then either a value[x] or a data absent reason must be present. | (component.empty() and hasMember.empty()) implies (dataAbsentReason.exists() or value.exists())


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

## Observation.status
**Must Support:** true


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

## Observation.category
**Cardinality:** 1..*

**Must Support:** true


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

## Observation.category
**Definition:** A code that classifies the general type of observation being made as a vital sign related observation, whether a point-in-time or calculated vital sign observation.

**Cardinality:** 1..1

**Must Support:** true


<a id="Observation.code"></a>

## Observation.code
Vital Sign Measurement

**Definition:** Vital Sign Measurement

**Cardinality:** 1..*

**Binding:** preferred:[observation-vitalsign-measurement](/valueset-observation-vitalsign-measurement)

**Must Support:** true


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

## Observation.subject
**Cardinality:** 1..*

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

**Must Support:** true


<a id="Observation.effective[x]"></a>

## Observation.effective[x]
Vital Signs are point in time measurements and are recorded using the dateTime data type

**Definition:** Vital Signs are point in time measurements and are recorded using the dateTime data type.

**Conditions:** vsp-1

**Cardinality:** 1..*

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

**Must Support:** true


<a id="Observation.value[x]"></a>

## Observation.value[x]
The quantity for the vital sign being observed.

**Definition:** The quantity for the vital sign being observed.

**Conditions:** vsp-2

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

**Binding:** preferred:[ucum-vitals-common](/valueset-ucum-vitals-common)


<a id="Observation.dataAbsentReason"></a>

## Observation.dataAbsentReason
**Conditions:** vsp-2


<a id="Observation.hasMember"></a>

## Observation.hasMember
Used when reporting observations included in a vital signs panel

**Definition:** Used when reporting observations included in a vital signs panel.

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


<a id="Observation.derivedFrom"></a>

## Observation.derivedFrom
**Type:** Reference([DocumentReference](/DocumentReference), [Observation](/Observation))


<a id="Observation.component"></a>

## Observation.component

<a id="Observation.component.code"></a>

## Observation.component.code
Vital Sign measurement or component

**Definition:** Vital Sign measurement or component.


<a id="Observation.component.value[x]"></a>

## Observation.component.value[x]
The value for the vital sign component being observed.

**Definition:** The value for the vital sign component being observed.


<a id="Observation.component.value[x]"></a>

## Observation.component.value[x]
Vital Sign component value recorded as a component with UCUM (preferred)

**Definition:** Vital Sign component value recorded as a component with UCUM (preferred).

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

**Binding:** preferred:[vs](/valueset-vs)


<a id="Observation.component.dataAbsentReason"></a>

## Observation.component.dataAbsentReason