> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.metriport.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Encounter

> An interaction between a patient and healthcare provider(s) for the purpose of providing healthcare service(s) or assessing the health status of a patient.

## Properties

| Name | Required | Type | Description |
| - | - | - | - |
| identifier | No | [Identifier](/medical-api/fhir/data-types/identifier)\[] | Identifier(s) by which this encounter is known |
| status | Yes | code | planned / arrived / triaged / in-progress / onleave / finished / cancelled + |
| statusHistory | No | EncounterStatusHistory | List of past encounter statuses |
| - id | No | string | Unique id for inter-element referencing |
| - extension | No | [Extension](/medical-api/fhir/data-types/extension)\[] | Additional content defined by implementations |
| - modifierExtension | No | [Extension](/medical-api/fhir/data-types/extension)\[] | Extensions that cannot be ignored even if unrecognized |
| - status | Yes | code | planned / arrived / triaged / in-progress / onleave / finished / cancelled + |
| - period | Yes | [Period](/medical-api/fhir/data-types/period) | The time that the episode was in the specified status |
| class | Yes | [Coding](/medical-api/fhir/data-types/coding) | Classification of patient encounter |
| classHistory | No | EncounterClassHistory | List of past encounter classes |
| - id | No | string | Unique id for inter-element referencing |
| - extension | No | [Extension](/medical-api/fhir/data-types/extension)\[] | Additional content defined by implementations |
| - modifierExtension | No | [Extension](/medical-api/fhir/data-types/extension)\[] | Extensions that cannot be ignored even if unrecognized |
| - class | Yes | [Coding](/medical-api/fhir/data-types/coding) | inpatient / outpatient / ambulatory / emergency + |
| - period | Yes | [Period](/medical-api/fhir/data-types/period) | The time that the episode was in the specified class |
| type | No | [CodeableConcept](/medical-api/fhir/data-types/codeableconcept)\[] | Specific type of encounter |
| serviceType | No | [CodeableConcept](/medical-api/fhir/data-types/codeableconcept) | Specific type of service |
| priority | No | [CodeableConcept](/medical-api/fhir/data-types/codeableconcept) | Indicates the urgency of the encounter |
| subject | No | Reference\<[Patient](/medical-api/fhir/resources/patient) / [Group](/medical-api/fhir/resources/group)> | The patient or group present at the encounter |
| episodeOfCare | No | Reference\<[EpisodeOfCare](/medical-api/fhir/resources/episodeofcare)>\[] | Episode(s) of care that this encounter should be recorded against |
| basedOn | No | Reference\<[ServiceRequest](/medical-api/fhir/resources/servicerequest)>\[] | The ServiceRequest that initiated this encounter |
| participant | No | EncounterParticipant | List of participants involved in the encounter |
| - id | No | string | Unique id for inter-element referencing |
| - extension | No | [Extension](/medical-api/fhir/data-types/extension)\[] | Additional content defined by implementations |
| - modifierExtension | No | [Extension](/medical-api/fhir/data-types/extension)\[] | Extensions that cannot be ignored even if unrecognized |
| - type | No | [CodeableConcept](/medical-api/fhir/data-types/codeableconcept)\[] | Role of participant in encounter |
| - period | No | [Period](/medical-api/fhir/data-types/period) | Period of time during the encounter that the participant participated |
| - individual | No | Reference\<[Practitioner](/medical-api/fhir/resources/practitioner) / [PractitionerRole](/medical-api/fhir/resources/practitionerrole) / [RelatedPerson](/medical-api/fhir/resources/relatedperson)> | Persons involved in the encounter other than the patient |
| appointment | No | Reference\<[Appointment](/medical-api/fhir/resources/appointment)>\[] | The appointment that scheduled this encounter |
| period | No | [Period](/medical-api/fhir/data-types/period) | The start and end time of the encounter |
| length | No | [Duration](/medical-api/fhir/data-types/duration) | Quantity of time the encounter lasted (less time absent) |
| reasonCode | No | [CodeableConcept](/medical-api/fhir/data-types/codeableconcept)\[] | Coded reason the encounter takes place |
| reasonReference | No | Reference\<[Condition](/medical-api/fhir/resources/condition) / [Procedure](/medical-api/fhir/resources/procedure) / [Observation](/medical-api/fhir/resources/observation) / [ImmunizationRecommendation](/medical-api/fhir/resources/immunizationrecommendation)>\[] | Reason the encounter takes place (reference) |
| diagnosis | No | EncounterDiagnosis | The list of diagnosis relevant to this encounter |
| - id | No | string | Unique id for inter-element referencing |
| - extension | No | [Extension](/medical-api/fhir/data-types/extension)\[] | Additional content defined by implementations |
| - modifierExtension | No | [Extension](/medical-api/fhir/data-types/extension)\[] | Extensions that cannot be ignored even if unrecognized |
| - condition | Yes | Reference\<[Condition](/medical-api/fhir/resources/condition) / [Procedure](/medical-api/fhir/resources/procedure)> | The diagnosis or procedure relevant to the encounter |
| - use | No | [CodeableConcept](/medical-api/fhir/data-types/codeableconcept) | Role that this diagnosis has within the encounter (e.g. admission, billing, discharge …) |
| - rank | No | positiveInt | Ranking of the diagnosis (for each role type) |
| account | No | Reference\<[Account](/medical-api/fhir/resources/account)>\[] | The set of accounts that may be used for billing for this Encounter |
| hospitalization | No | EncounterHospitalization | Details about the admission to a healthcare service |
| - id | No | string | Unique id for inter-element referencing |
| - extension | No | [Extension](/medical-api/fhir/data-types/extension)\[] | Additional content defined by implementations |
| - modifierExtension | No | [Extension](/medical-api/fhir/data-types/extension)\[] | Extensions that cannot be ignored even if unrecognized |
| - preAdmissionIdentifier | No | [Identifier](/medical-api/fhir/data-types/identifier) | Pre-admission identifier |
| - origin | No | Reference\<[Location](/medical-api/fhir/resources/location) / [Organization](/medical-api/fhir/resources/organization)> | The location/organization from which the patient came before admission |
| - admitSource | No | [CodeableConcept](/medical-api/fhir/data-types/codeableconcept) | From where patient was admitted (physician referral, transfer) |
| - reAdmission | No | [CodeableConcept](/medical-api/fhir/data-types/codeableconcept) | The type of hospital re-admission that has occurred (if any). If the value is absent, then this is not identified as a readmission |
| - dietPreference | No | [CodeableConcept](/medical-api/fhir/data-types/codeableconcept)\[] | Diet preferences reported by the patient |
| - specialCourtesy | No | [CodeableConcept](/medical-api/fhir/data-types/codeableconcept)\[] | Special courtesies (VIP, board member) |
| - specialArrangement | No | [CodeableConcept](/medical-api/fhir/data-types/codeableconcept)\[] | Wheelchair, translator, stretcher, etc. |
| - destination | No | Reference\<[Location](/medical-api/fhir/resources/location) / [Organization](/medical-api/fhir/resources/organization)> | Location/organization to which the patient is discharged |
| - dischargeDisposition | No | [CodeableConcept](/medical-api/fhir/data-types/codeableconcept) | Category or kind of location after discharge |
| location | No | EncounterLocation | List of locations where the patient has been |
| - id | No | string | Unique id for inter-element referencing |
| - extension | No | [Extension](/medical-api/fhir/data-types/extension)\[] | Additional content defined by implementations |
| - modifierExtension | No | [Extension](/medical-api/fhir/data-types/extension)\[] | Extensions that cannot be ignored even if unrecognized |
| - location | Yes | Reference\<[Location](/medical-api/fhir/resources/location)> | Location the encounter takes place |
| - status | No | code | planned / active / reserved / completed |
| - physicalType | No | [CodeableConcept](/medical-api/fhir/data-types/codeableconcept) | The physical type of the location (usually the level in the location hierachy - bed room ward etc.) |
| - period | No | [Period](/medical-api/fhir/data-types/period) | Time period during which the patient was present at the location |
| serviceProvider | No | Reference\<[Organization](/medical-api/fhir/resources/organization)> | The organization (facility) responsible for this encounter |
| partOf | No | Reference\<[Encounter](/medical-api/fhir/resources/encounter)> | Another Encounter this encounter is part of |

## Search Parameters

| Name | Type | Description | Expression |
| - | - | - | - |
| date | date | A date within the period the Encounter lasted | Encounter.period |
| identifier | token | Identifier(s) by which this encounter is known | Encounter.identifier |
| patient | reference | The patient or group present at the encounter | Encounter.subject |
| type | token | Specific type of encounter | Encounter.type |
| account | reference | The set of accounts that may be used for billing for this Encounter | Encounter.account |
| appointment | reference | The appointment that scheduled this encounter | Encounter.appointment |
| based-on | reference | The ServiceRequest that initiated this encounter | Encounter.basedOn |
| class | token | Classification of patient encounter | Encounter.class |
| diagnosis | reference | The diagnosis or procedure relevant to the encounter | Encounter.diagnosis.condition |
| episode-of-care | reference | Episode(s) of care that this encounter should be recorded against | Encounter.episodeOfCare |
| length | quantity | Length of encounter in days | Encounter.length |
| location | reference | Location the encounter takes place | Encounter.location.location |
| location-period | date | Time period during which the patient was present at the location | Encounter.location.period |
| part-of | reference | Another Encounter this encounter is part of | Encounter.partOf |
| participant | reference | Persons involved in the encounter other than the patient | Encounter.participant.individual |
| participant-type | token | Role of participant in encounter | Encounter.participant.type |
| practitioner | reference | Persons involved in the encounter other than the patient | Encounter.participant.individual |
| reason-code | token | Coded reason the encounter takes place | Encounter.reasonCode |
| reason-reference | reference | Reason the encounter takes place (reference) | Encounter.reasonReference |
| service-provider | reference | The organization (facility) responsible for this encounter | Encounter.serviceProvider |
| special-arrangement | token | Wheelchair, translator, stretcher, etc. | Encounter.hospitalization.specialArrangement |
| status | token | planned / arrived / triaged / in-progress / onleave / finished / cancelled + | Encounter.status |
| subject | reference | The patient or group present at the encounter | Encounter.subject |

## Inherited Properties

| Name | Required | Type | Description |
| - | - | - | - |
| id | No | string | Logical id of this artifact |
| meta | No | [Meta](/medical-api/fhir/data-types/meta) | Metadata about the resource |
| implicitRules | No | uri | A set of rules under which this content was created |
| language | No | code | Language of the resource content |
| text | No | [Narrative](/medical-api/fhir/data-types/narrative) | Text summary of the resource, for human interpretation |
| contained | No | Resource\[] | Contained, inline Resources |
| extension | No | [Extension](/medical-api/fhir/data-types/extension)\[] | Additional content defined by implementations |
| modifierExtension | No | [Extension](/medical-api/fhir/data-types/extension)\[] | Extensions that cannot be ignored |

To view the FHIR specification for this resource, see [Encounter](https://www.hl7.org/fhir/StructureDefinition/Encounter).


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