Requirements-Context Binding

Context binding is based on the concept of Concept Domains and Binding Realms. Initial model designs reference abstract concept domains that avoid referencing particular sets of codes. Specific sets of codes are then chosen within the context of a particular binding realm. For example, the set of codes used for diagnosis in the U.S. for human patients might be different than that chosen for veterinary patients in Canada.

MIF Reference: mif-model-vocabulary.xsd/ContextBinding

Requirement	HL7 Standards must be able to be constructed with coded elements that are not constrained to a specific set of codes, while still constraining the 'types' of codes that are considered appropriate and ensuring that consistent codes are used for a given concept across parts of a specification.
Rationale	There are variations in healthcare across countries, cultures, medical discipline (e.g. internal medicine vs. psychiatry), type of patient (e.g. human vs. veterinary or pediatric vs. geriatric) There is still a need to provide guidance about what types of codes are appropriate for a given element Failure to use consistent codes within different parts of a specification (e.g. one set of codes for create messages and a different set for update messages) would lead to interoperability issues
Methodology	Concept Domains

Requirement	Context Bindings may change over time
Rationale	New terminologies are constantly in development. A terminology selected for a given use today may not be considered appropriate 3 years from now. For example, migrating from an ICD10 set of codes to a SNOMED CT set of codes when the jurisdiction is ready for the migration.
Methodology	Each vocabulary binding has a start date and may have an end date. (Bindings should not change frequently enough to necessitate a time component)
MIF	mif-model-vocabulary.xsd/ContextBinding/@effectiveDate mif-model-vocabulary.xsd/ContextBinding/@expiryDate