Data elements and terminologies

The data elements and terminologies standardize how health information is captured and structured for consistent collection, exchange and use across care settings and jurisdictions. This common approach enables health information to follow individuals throughout their care journey, supports access to personal health records, and provides a foundation for continued interoperability as Canada's health system evolves.

The data elements and terminologies include the information that may be collected in one setting (e.g., a primary health care clinic or an emergency department), as well as the information that a provider may expect to receive electronically from other providers (e.g., pharmacists, specialists).

Data element: A distinct unit of information that represents a specific attribute or characteristic in a data set. In some cases, the data element definition references a fixed code that is used to uniquely identify the associated observation.

Terminology foundation: The code system and/or base value set from which curated subsets can be developed for a specific use case. The terminology foundation defines the broadest set of permitted values for purposes of health data exchange and may be derived from clinical terminologies, classifications or other standardized code systems, as appropriate to the use case. The terminology foundation is represented as either the value set’s logical (intensional) definition (i.e., with inclusion and/or exclusion criteria) or by explicitly enumerating specific concepts (extensional). Where relevant, the terminology foundation may be expressed using a clinical terminology such as SNOMED CT CA or LOINC (pCLOCD) or using classifications and other code systems such as ICD, CCI, UCUM, ISO or HL7. The terminology foundation references the formal concept representation (e.g., SNOMED CT fully specified name [FSN] where SNOMED CT is used), which can differ from the preferred term/synonym displayed in the “Value set examples” column.

Value set: A defined set of permissible values, including associated codes, terms and definitions, that can be assigned to a specific data element. The value sets referenced represent pan-Canadian value set recommendations. In some cases, additional value sets are referenced to meet a specific use case outlined in the guidance. The additional value sets are not generally intended to be substituted for the recommended value set. Value set examples represent display names. Further information on codes and concepts is available through the value set hyperlink. In most cases, value set examples provided are a partial list, and where the full list is provided it is noted. Canada Health Infoway hosts and maintains the National Terminology Server, where pan-Canadian value sets are made available. While a user account is required to access the Terminology Server, the value sets themselves are available at no cost.

Maturity levels: A maturity model (refer to Table 1) documents the readiness of the data elements, value sets and data architecture components. Each component may be at a different level of maturity. The maturity model facilitates tracking the evolution of these components over time, enabling continuous refinement and enhancement based on feedback and emerging needs. The maturity of the Pan-Canadian Health Data Content Framework’s deliverables will be re-evaluated with each version release.