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observation external identifier

obs_ext_id
general
Updated 3/30/2026

Definition

The external system reference id for a clinical finding or measurement. Used as a unique reference to identify and track the observation across healthcare systems. This field is commonly used in electronic health records (EHR), healthcare information systems (HIS), and clinical data warehouses for observation management and reporting.

Standard Abbreviation

obs_ext_id

Category

general

Database Usage

-- Example column naming
CREATE TABLE claims (
  claim_id VARCHAR(50),
  obs_ext_id VARCHAR(100),  -- observation external identifier
  ...
);

-- Example in SELECT
SELECT 
  claim_id,
  obs_ext_id as observation_external_identifier
FROM claims;

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