> ## 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).