Overview
ISO 21549-2:2014 - Health informatics - Patient healthcard data - Part 2: Common objects defines a common framework for the content and structure of reusable data objects used on patient-held healthcare data cards (patient healthcards). The standard targets patient healthcards conformant with the ID-1 physical card format (ISO/IEC 7810). It specifies an object-oriented data model (expressed in UML and ASN.1) for building and referencing common objects but does not mandate particular data sets or specific security mechanisms.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Object model and structure: Presents a generic patient healthcard data object model (PatientHealthcardData) to compose DeviceData, IdentificationData, AdministrativeData, ClinicalData, Links and SecurityData.
- Basic data objects: Defines atomic and compound reusable objects (basic data objects) that form the building blocks for clinical, administrative and identification records.
- Internal referencing (RefPointer / RefTag): Specifies mechanisms for referencing objects and sub-objects within a card using ordered tag sequences to enable efficient linking and reuse.
- Coded data and accessory attributes: Covers structured coded data and accessory attributes that help label, describe and manage stored items while optimizing limited card memory.
- Device and data security attributes: Describes security-related data attributes (integrity, authentication, availability) applicable to cards; concrete security services and mechanisms are out of scope.
- ASN.1 and UML representations: Includes normative ASN.1 definitions (Annex A) and UML models for implementers to ensure consistent encoding and interpretation.
- Normative references: Relies on harmonized data types such as ISO 21090:2011 for data type interoperability.
Note: ISO 21549-2 intentionally does not cover encoding of free text, implementation of access control, initialization/issuing processes, or downstream message processing.
Practical applications
- Standardizes data structures for patient healthcards, portable medical records, prescription cards and transportable monitoring devices.
- Enables interoperability among card issuers, healthcare providers, insurers and health IT systems exchanging person-related and clinical data.
- Supports use cases in ambulatory care, cross-region care, home healthcare, emergency care and pharmacy services where portable patient data is required.
Who should use this standard
- Health informatics architects and system designers
- Smart-card manufacturers and card issuance authorities
- Healthcare IT integrators and EMR/EHR vendors implementing card interfaces
- Standards bodies, regulators and policy makers defining healthcard deployments
Related standards
- ISO 21549 (Parts 1–8) - overall patient healthcard data series
- ISO/IEC 7810 - ID-1 card physical dimensions
- ISO 21090 - Harmonized data types for health information interchange
Keywords: ISO 21549-2, health informatics, patient healthcard, common objects, ASN.1, UML, ID-1 card, healthcare data cards, interoperability.