FHIR Uniform Resource Identifier (URI)

A Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) is a globally unique string of characters used to identify and locate a resource on the internet or within a system. In the context of FHIR^® (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources), URIs are used to consistently reference and access healthcare data, such as terminology codes, value sets, and system endpoints. By ensuring unique and standardized identification, FHIR URIs enhance interoperability, enabling systems to communicate and exchange health information seamlessly across different platforms and organizations.

URI Registration Process

1. Requestor shall first check that the URI does not already exist in the Canadian URI Project, Jurisdictional Registry (if exists) or HL7 FHIR Specification. 
2. FHIR URIs must not be proposed for Subsets to be published on the Terminology Server as they will be generated automatically.
3. Requestor shall contact the owner or representative for either:
   • Jurisdictional URI, requestor shall contact Jurisdictional Representative who will post a suggested URI in accordance with the URI guidelines, to the HL7 Canada forum and FHIR Implementations WG forum
   • Non-jurisdictional URI, the requestor shall contact the owner or responsible body who will post a suggested URI in accordance with the URI guidelines, to the HL7 Canada forum and FHIR Implementations WG forum
4. Forum posts shall have the following format:
   Subject: New URI Request
   • Description: “A description of the URI”
   • Responsible Body & Contact Information
   • Proposed FHIR URI: URI as per URI Guidelines
   • Existing OID (if exists)
   • To be published (optional): Jurisdictional repository/ Canadian URI Registry
5. There will be a wait period of five business days for the communities to react to the forum post with comments, questions or requests for clarification.
6. Update Forum post will be updated with the new URI.
7. Publishing the URI in the Canadian URI Registry and Jurisdictional Registry. This is highly recommended to prevent any misuse or duplication of URIs but it is optional.

See a flowchart of the FHIR URI Registration Process (pdf).