Which data type is used for transmitting a practitioner's name and identifier?

The data type used for transmitting a practitioner's name and identifier is the extended composite name and identifier, which is represented by the data type XCN. This data type is specifically designed to handle both the name and the identifier of individuals, including healthcare practitioners, which makes it ideal for this type of information exchange.

XCN not only accommodates the name of a practitioner but also includes their identifiers, allowing for comprehensive data representation regarding the professional. It typically includes fields for multiple parts of a name (such as family name, given name, etc.) as well as any relevant identification information that may be needed to uniquely identify the practitioner within a healthcare system. This feature is crucial in scenarios where clear identification of practitioners is necessary for various processes, including patient care and administrative tasks.

In contrast, the other data types mentioned serve different purposes. The coded element (CE) is primarily used for coded values like terms from standardized vocabularies. The extended composite ID with check digit (CX) is more suited for identifiers alone rather than names. The extended composite name and identification number for organizations (XON) specifically relates to organizations rather than individual practitioners. Thus, XCN is the most fitting choice for conveying both the name and identifier of a healthcare practitioner within HL7