kSIST FprEN ISO 13940:2026

Health informatics - System of concepts to support continuity of care (ISO/FDIS 13940:2026)

This document specifies the requirements for a system of concepts needed to define care processes that support the continuity of care in the health sector.  It is applicable to processes that support social care as well as clinical care.  Systems of concepts conforming to this document can be used to define:
-      the information viewpoint within logical reference models as a common basis for semantic interoperability at international, national or local levels;
-      information systems;
-      information needed to support various types of care processes and their interaction.
This document does not specify how to perform specific care processes. This document does not cover research processes in the context of social and clinical care, welfare and educational processes.

Medizinische Informatik - Begriffssystem zur Unterstützung der Kontinuität der Versorgung (ISO/FDIS 13940:2026)

Informatique de santé - Système de concepts en appui de la continuité des soins (ISO/FDIS 13940:2026)

ISO 13940:2015 définit un système de concepts pour différents aspects de la prestation de soins de santé.
L'activité principale du domaine des soins de santé est l'interaction entre les sujets des soins et les professionnels de santé. Ce type d'interaction a lieu dans le cadre de processus cliniques ou de soins de santé, et constitue la justification de l'approche par processus de la présente norme. Pour pouvoir représenter à la fois le contenu clinique et le contexte clinique, la présente norme s'appuie sur un modèle générique de processus cliniques ou de soins de santé, ainsi que sur des définitions et des modèles de concepts globaux pour les aspects cliniques, de gestion et de ressources des prestations de santé.
Dans la pratique, la présente norme couvre les définitions de concepts requises, chaque fois que des informations structurées en matière de soins de santé sont spécifiées en tant qu'exigence. Les définitions renvoient uniquement au niveau conceptuel, et non, aux détails de mise en ?uvre. La présente Norme couvrira tous les niveaux de spécifications dans le cadre du développement:
- de modèles de référence logiques du point de vue de l'information, servant de base commune pour l'interopérabilité sémantique aux niveaux international, national ou local;
- de systèmes d'information et
- d'informations pour certains types spécifiques de processus cliniques.
ISO 13940:2015 ne traite pas de l'exécution des processus informatiques, cliniques et de soins de santé spécifiques.
Les processus de recherche et d'éducation en soins de santé ne sont pas traités dans la présente norme.

Zdravstvena informatika - Sistem pojmov za podporo neprekinjeni oskrbi (ISO/FDIS 13940:2026)

General Information

• Status: Not Published
• Public Enquiry End Date: 06-Nov-2025
• ICS: 35.240.80 - IT applications in health care technology
• Technical Committee: ITC - Information technology
• Current Stage: 5020 - Formal vote (FV) (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 23-Apr-2026
• Due Date: 11-Jun-2026
• Completion Date: 19-May-2026
• Ref Project: FprEN ISO 13940 - Health informatics - System of concepts to support continuity of care (ISO/FDIS 13940:2026)

Relations

• Revises: SIST EN ISO 13940:2016 - Health informatics - System of concepts to support continuity of care (ISO 13940:2015)
• Effective Date: 22-Jan-2025

Overview

kSIST FprEN ISO 13940:2026 - Health informatics: System of concepts to support continuity of care is an international standard developed under ISO/TC 215, facilitated by SIST. This document establishes a comprehensive system of concepts to define and structure care processes supporting the continuity of care in healthcare. It applies to both clinical and social care settings, focusing on enhancing semantic interoperability and consistent communication across information systems, organizations, and care providers.

The standard enables health informatics solutions to model and manage information needed for a wide range of care activities and the interactions involved. While it addresses essential requirements to define care processes, it does not prescribe specific clinical or social care actions, nor does it cover research, welfare, or educational processes.

Key Topics

kSIST FprEN ISO 13940:2026 covers essential aspects for achieving continuity and quality in health informatics:

• System of concepts: Defines a common terminology to unify the understanding and documentation of care processes, actors, activities, and resources.
• Continuity of care: Addresses the coordinated delivery of healthcare services over time and across different care settings.
• Actors and roles: Clarifies roles such as care provider, subject of care, care organization, and third-party participants.
• Care processes and activities: Structures terms for activities ranging from assessment, investigation, and treatment, to care process planning and evaluation.
• Events and timelines: Supports the documentation of key events including appointments, encounters, periods of care, and episodes.
• Care records: Structures information needed for comprehensive, interoperable care records between electronic health record (EHR) systems and stakeholders.
• Semantic interoperability: Provides a foundation for ensuring consistency and understanding of data exchanged at international, national, or local levels.

Applications

The practical value of kSIST FprEN ISO 13940:2026 is broad, providing benefits to implementers, policy-makers, and health informatics professionals:

• Design of health information systems: Ensures systems like electronic health records (EHRs), hospital information systems, and care management platforms use a standardized conceptual model.
• Semantic interoperability: Facilitates the seamless exchange of patient information across different providers, organizations, and countries by establishing a shared vocabulary.
• Process improvement: Helps organizations map, analyze, and improve clinical and social care processes, supporting quality management and continuity.
• Integration of health and social care: Enables information systems to better support the coordination between healthcare and social care providers, ensuring all aspects of care are addressed.
• International collaboration: Supports cross-border healthcare delivery and compliance with global standards for health informatics.

Related Standards

For comprehensive information management and interoperability in healthcare, consider these related standards:

• ISO 13606 series: Health informatics - Electronic health record communication
• ISO/HL7 10781: Electronic Health Record System Functional Model
• EN 12967 series: Health informatics - Service architecture (HISA)
• ISO/IEC 11179: Metadata registries
• ISO 13943: Health informatics - Vocabulary

kSIST FprEN ISO 13940:2026 serves as a foundational reference for anyone developing, implementing, or maintaining interoperable health information systems, ensuring consistent, quality-driven, and patient-centered continuity of care.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
oSIST prEN ISO 13940:2025
01-november-2025
Zdravstvena informatika - Sistem pojmov za podporo neprekinjeni oskrbi (ISO/DIS
13940:2025)
Health informatics - System of concepts to support continuity of care (ISO/DIS
13940:2025)
Medizinische Informatik - Begriffssystem zur Unterstützung der Kontinuität der
Versorgung (ISO/DIS 13940:2025)
Informatique de santé - Système de concepts en appui de la continuité des soins
(ISO/DIS 13940:2025)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN ISO 13940
ICS:
35.240.80 Uporabniške rešitve IT v IT applications in health care
zdravstveni tehniki technology
oSIST prEN ISO 13940:2025 en,fr,de
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

oSIST prEN ISO 13940:2025
oSIST prEN ISO 13940:2025
DRAFT
International
Standard
ISO/DIS 13940
ISO/TC 215
Health informatics — System of
Secretariat: ANSI
concepts to support continuity of
Voting begins on:
care
2025-08-18
Informatique de santé — Système de concepts en appui de la
Voting terminates on:
continuité des soins
2025-10-13
ICS: 35.240.80
THIS DOCUMENT IS A DRAFT CIRCULATED
FOR COMMENTS AND APPROVAL. IT
IS THEREFORE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
AND MAY NOT BE REFERRED TO AS AN
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD UNTIL
PUBLISHED AS SUCH.
This document has not been edited by the ISO Central Secretariat.
IN ADDITION TO THEIR EVALUATION AS
BEING ACCEPTABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL,
TECHNOLOGICAL, COMMERCIAL AND
USER PURPOSES, DRAFT INTERNATIONAL
STANDARDS MAY ON OCCASION HAVE TO
ISO/CEN PARALLEL PROCESSING
BE CONSIDERED IN THE LIGHT OF THEIR
POTENTIAL TO BECOME STANDARDS TO
WHICH REFERENCE MAY BE MADE IN
NATIONAL REGULATIONS.
RECIPIENTS OF THIS DRAFT ARE INVITED
TO SUBMIT, WITH THEIR COMMENTS,
NOTIFICATION OF ANY RELEVANT PATENT
RIGHTS OF WHICH THEY ARE AWARE AND TO
PROVIDE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION.
Reference number
ISO/DIS 13940:2025(en)
oSIST prEN ISO 13940:2025
DRAFT
ISO/DIS 13940:2025(en)
International
Standard
ISO/DIS 13940
ISO/TC 215
Health informatics — System of
Secretariat: ANSI
concepts to support continuity of care
Voting begins on:
Informatique de santé — Système de concepts en appui de la
2025-08-18
continuité des soins
Voting terminates on:
ICS: 35.240.80 2025-10-13
THIS DOCUMENT IS A DRAFT CIRCULATED
FOR COMMENTS AND APPROVAL. IT
IS THEREFORE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
AND MAY NOT BE REFERRED TO AS AN
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD UNTIL
PUBLISHED AS SUCH.
This document has not been edited by the ISO Central Secretariat.
IN ADDITION TO THEIR EVALUATION AS
BEING ACCEPTABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL,
© ISO 2025
TECHNOLOGICAL, COMMERCIAL AND
USER PURPOSES, DRAFT INTERNATIONAL
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
STANDARDS MAY ON OCCASION HAVE TO
ISO/CEN PARALLEL PROCESSING
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
BE CONSIDERED IN THE LIGHT OF THEIR
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
POTENTIAL TO BECOME STANDARDS TO
WHICH REFERENCE MAY BE MADE IN
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
NATIONAL REGULATIONS.
ISO copyright office
RECIPIENTS OF THIS DRAFT ARE INVITED
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
TO SUBMIT, WITH THEIR COMMENTS,
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
NOTIFICATION OF ANY RELEVANT PATENT
Phone: [phone]
RIGHTS OF WHICH THEY ARE AWARE AND TO
PROVIDE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION.
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland Reference number
ISO/DIS 13940:2025(en)
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oSIST prEN ISO 13940:2025
ISO/DIS 13940:2025(en)
Contents Page
Foreword .ix
Introduction .x
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
3.1 General terms .1
3.2 Health matters .4
3.3 Actors, performers and resources .19
3.4 Activities . 35
3.5 Care processes . 46
3.6 Time. 53
3.7 Plans and events . 63
3.8 Mandates . 72
3.9 Care records . 81
4 Symbols and abbreviations .97
5 Health and care .97
5.1 General . 97
5.2 Explanations and comments . 97
5.2.1 health state . 97
5.2.2 health matter . 97
5.2.3 health condition . 97
5.2.4 health issue . 98
5.2.5 health problem . 98
5.2.6 health thread . 98
5.2.7 potential health condition . . 98
5.2.8 observed condition . 98
5.2.9 considered condition . 98
5.2.10 vulnerability . 98
5.2.11 excluded condition . 98
5.2.12 social environment . 99
5.2.13 social determinant of health . 99
5.2.14 health need . 99
5.3 Diagrams . 100
5.4 Normative statements . 102
5.4.1 Relationships of health state . 102
5.4.2 Relationships of health matter . 103
5.4.3 Relationships of social matter . 103
5.4.4 Relationships of health condition . 103
5.4.5 Relationships of health issue . 103
5.4.6 Relationships of social issue. 104
5.4.7 Relationships of clinical issue . 104
5.4.8 Relationships of health problem . 104
5.4.9 Relationships of health thread . 104
5.4.10 Relationships of health problem list . 104
5.4.11 Relationships of potential health condition . 104
5.4.12 Relationships of observed condition . 105
5.4.13 Relationships of considered condition . 105
5.4.14 Relationships of professionally assessed condition . 105
5.4.15 Relationships of vulnerability . 105
5.4.16 Relationships of excluded condition . 106
5.4.17 Relationships of working diagnosis . 106
5.4.18 Relationships of prognostic condition . 106
5.4.19 Relationships of resultant condition . 106

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5.4.20 Relationships of target condition . 106
5.4.21 Relationships of risk condition . 107
5.4.22 Relationships of social environment . 107
5.4.23 Relationships of social determinant of health . 107
5.4.24 Relationships of health need . 107
5.4.25 Relationships of social need . 107
5.4.26 Relationships of clinical need . 107
6 Actors and resources .107
6.1 General . 107
6.2 Explanations and comments . 108
6.2.1 care actor . 108
6.2.2 subject of care . 108
6.2.3 care organization . 108
6.2.4 care third party . 108
6.2.5 care personnel . 108
6.2.6 care employment . 108
6.2.7 care professional entitlement . 108
6.2.8 care professional . 108
6.2.9 subject of care proxy . 108
6.2.10 care performer . 109
6.2.11 prescriber . 109
6.2.12 care resource . 109
6.2.13 point of care . 109
6.2.14 care funds . 109
6.3 Diagrams .110
6.4 Normative statements . 112
6.4.1 Relationships of care actor . 112
6.4.2 Relationships of subject of care . . 113
6.4.3 Relationships of care provider .114
6.4.4 Relationships of care third party .114
6.4.5 Relationships of care organization .114
6.4.6 Relationships of care employment .114
6.4.7 Relationships of care personnel . 115
6.4.8 Relationships of care professional entitlement. 115
6.4.9 Relationships of care professional . 115
6.4.10 Relationships of other carer .116
6.4.11 Relationships of care supporting organization . .116
6.4.12 Relationships of subject of care proxy .116
6.4.13 Relationships of care performer .116
6.4.14 Relationships of self-care performer .116
6.4.15 Relationships of third party care performer .117
6.4.16 Relationships of prescriber .117
6.4.17 Relationships of care resource .117
6.4.18 Relationships of point of care.117
6.4.19 Relationships of medical device .117
6.4.20 Relationships of automatic medical device . 118
6.4.21 Relationships of medicinal product . 118
6.4.22 Relationships of care funds . . 118
7 Activities .118
7.1 General . 118
7.2 Explanations and comments . 118
7.2.1 care activity . 118
7.2.2 care activities bundle . 118
7.2.3 care investigation .119
7.2.4 care treatment .119
7.2.5 health condition assessment .119
7.2.6 care needs assessment .119
7.2.7 care activity management .119

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7.2.8 care evaluation . .119
7.3 Diagram . 120
7.4 Normative statements . 121
7.4.1 Relationships of care activity. 121
7.4.2 Relationships of care provider activity . 122
7.4.3 Relationships of social care . 122
7.4.4 Relationships of automated care . 123
7.4.5 Relationships of self-care . 123
7.4.6 Relationships of prescribed self-care. 123
7.4.7 Relationships of care third party activity . 123
7.4.8 Relationships of prescribed third party activity . 124
7.4.9 Relationships of care activities bundle . 124
7.4.10 Relationships of care service . 124
7.4.11 Relationships of care service directory . 124
7.4.12 Relationships of care investigation . 124
7.4.13 Relationships of care treatment . 125
7.4.14 Relationships of health condition assessment . 125
7.4.15 Relationships of care assessment . 125
7.4.16 Relationships of care needs assessment . 125
7.4.17 Relationships of needed care activity . 125
7.4.18 Relationships of care activity management . 125
7.4.19 Relationships of care evaluation . 126
8 Processes .126
8.1 General . 126
8.2 Explanations and comments . 126
8.2.1 care process . 126
8.2.2 continuity of care process . 126
8.2.3 request for care . 126
8.2.4 reason for request for care . 126
8.2.5 care process evaluation. 126
8.3 Diagram . 127
8.4 Normative statements . 128
8.4.1 Relationships of care process . 128
8.4.2 Relationships of continuity of care process .128
8.4.3 Relationships of input health state .128
8.4.4 Relationships of output health state .128
8.4.5 Relationships of request for care . 129
8.4.6 Relationships of initial request for care . 129
8.4.7 Relationships of referral .129
8.4.8 Relationships of request for service . 130
8.4.9 Relationships of reason for request for care . 130
8.4.10 Relationships of care process evaluation . 130
9 Events, time .130
9.1 General . 130
9.2 Explanations and comments . 130
9.2.1 health related period . 130
9.2.2 health condition period . 130
9.2.3 care activity period . 130
9.2.4 mandated period of care . 130
9.2.5 indirect care activity period . 131
9.2.6 prescribed self-care period . 131
9.2.7 care contact . 131
9.2.8 initial contact . . 131
9.2.9 encounter . 131
9.2.10 care appointment . 131
9.2.11 episode of care . 131
9.2.12 care activity delay . 131
9.2.13 health approach . 131

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9.3 Diagram . 132
9.4 Normative statements . 132
9.4.1 Relationships of health related period. 132
9.4.2 Relationships of health condition period. 133
9.4.3 Relationships of care activity period . 133
9.4.4 Relationships of mandated period of care . 133
9.4.5 Relationships of indirect care activity period . 133
9.4.6 Relationships of prescribed self-care period .134
9.4.7 Relationships of care contact .134
9.4.8 Relationships of initial contact .134
9.4.9 Relationships of contact period.134
9.4.10 Relationships of care appointment .134
9.4.11 Relationships of episode of care . 135
9.4.12 Relationships of episodes of care bundle. 135
9.4.13 Relationships of care activity delay. 135
9.4.14 Relationships of health condition delay . 135
9.4.15 Relationships of resource delay . 135
9.4.16 Relationships of health approach . 135
9.4.17 Relationships of subject of care preference delay . 136
10 Planning care and knowledge resources .136
10.1 General . 136
10.2 Explanations and comments . 136
10.2.1 care planning . 136
10.2.2 care goal . 136
10.2.3 intended outcome . 136
10.2.4 core care plan . 136
10.2.5 care pathway . 136
10.2.6 unintended event . 136
10.3 Diagram . 137
10.4 Normative statements . 137
10.4.1 Relationships of care planning . 137
10.4.2 Relationships of care goal .138
10.4.3 Relationships of intended outcome . . 138
10.4.4 Relationships of care guideline . 138
10.4.5 Relationships of protocol .138
10.4.6 Relationships of care pathway . 138
10.4.7 Relationships of care plan . 139
10.4.8 Relationships of core care plan . 139
10.4.9 Relationships of social care plan . 139
10.4.10 Relationships of clinical care plan . 139
10.4.11 Relationships of integrated care plan . 140
10.4.12 Relationships of risk . 140
10.4.13 Relationships of unintended event . 140
10.4.14 Relationships of adverse event . 140
10.4.15 Relationships of adverse event management . 140
11 Responsibility .140
11.1 General . 140
11.2 Explanations and comments .
...