FHIR OperationDefinition Released for Patient Occupation Data Acquisition

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This document serves as a technical specification for 'Patient Occupation' provided by Estonia. It is implemented as an FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) OperationDefinition, released in version 1.4.0. By utilizing this operation definition, healthcare systems can retrieve the latest occupation information for a specific patient ID, sourced from the Employment Register (TÖR). The API call requires an x-road-issue HTTP header to ensure access to the data source. This provides not merely information but a standardized interface for practical data linkage. It could serve as a model case for comprehensive and secure exchange of patient attribute information in Japanese healthcare IT. The specification is effective as of October 14, 2025, and is based on FHIR 5.0.0. Technically, this operation definition is accessed via the URL path `Patient/$occupation`. Required input parameters (IN) include a reference to the patient resource (`Reference ( Patient )`). The output (OUT) returns a Bundle containing Observation instances. This demonstrates that time-series observational data, such as occupation information, can be handled in a standardized format. The publication of this specification significantly contributes to improving the lifecycle management and interoperability of patient data across countries. It is particularly noteworthy as a concrete solution to the challenge of 'dispersed and non-standardized personal attribute information' faced by Japanese medical institutions.

Technology Note

FHIR（Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources）は医療データ交換の国際標準。このエントリの関連技術: HL7