About VSAC Collections

A VSAC collection is a set of value sets bundled by a steward. The steward can publish the bundle as a collection expansion in VSAC, meaning that all value sets in the collection are published using the same expansion parameters. It provides a convenient and quick way to publish a group of value sets without going through a formal release process. Each collection has a unique name, an assigned steward group, and a description written by the steward. Each collection expansion has a unique expansion version name and FHIR URI. Stewards can choose to include an expansion description as well. Users can view and download published collection expansions in Search Value Sets and retrieve collection expansions using the VSAC FHIR API.

Find Collections in VSAC

View and Download Collection Expansions

• Go to the Search Value Set tab.
• Go to the Search By drop-down menu and select Collection.
• Go to the Version drop-down menu and select a version
• To view the Collection: select Search and the Matched Value Sets table will populate at the bottom of the screen.
• To download an entire collection: click the Download and FHIR Info button (next to the Version drop-down menu). Select the file format: Excel, XML, or text, and click the Download button.
• Note: All VSAC users will be able to see published Collections.

Figure 1: Search Value Sets collection drop-down menus and search result window.

Figure 2: Download and FHIR Info Search Value Sets window.

Collection Management

Who can create and publish collections in VSAC

You must be a member of a steward group to create and publish collections.

What is the Collection Management tool?

The Steward Collection Management tool in VSAC Authoring allows stewards to create collections, edit collection metadata, add value sets to collections, and publish collection expansions. The following section describes how to use the tool.

To get started, sign into VSAC and go to the Authoring tab.

Collections tab

Create a new collection

• Click the Create a Collection button in the Collections tab.
• Complete the collection metadata fields: Collection Name, Steward Group, and Description.
• Hover over the tooltip icon (?) for each field to see its requirements.
• Click the Create Collection button.
• You will see an information window stating: “Collection created successfully.”
• Click OK in this information window.
• View your collection metadata:
• Name
• Steward Group
• Description
• Created By
• Created On
• Metadata Modified By/Last Modified On

View and Edit Collection

Note: You cannot edit published collections or collections with pending expansions.

• Click the Edit button on the top right side of the metadata table.
• Edit one or more fields.
• Click Save
• You will see an information window stating: “Collection {name} updated successfully.”
• Click OK in this information window.
• View your collection again and verify the changes.

Add Value Sets to a Collection

• Go to the Select Value Sets to Add to Your Collection table, to the right under the metadata table.
• Note: You will see only value sets that are assigned to your steward groups. You can add value sets with Status=Ready to Publish, or Review Status=Active. Value sets with other statuses are greyed out and you cannot select them.
• Select the checkbox next to each value set that you want to add.
• Click the +Add to Collection button at the top of the table.
• Confirm that your selections are in the Value Sets table on the left.

Remove Value Sets from a Collection

• Select the checkboxes of the value sets that you would like to remove from your collection in the left Value Sets table.
• Select the Remove from Collection button.

Figure 3: Value Set Authoring Steward Collection Management, Collections tab.

Expansions

Schedule a Collection Expansion

• Expansions are published overnight. You will schedule an expansion and confirm the published expansion the following day.
• Go to the Expansions tab.
• Go to the Select Collection drop-down menu and select your collection.
• Complete the required expansion metadata fields:
• Batch Expansion/Publication Date
• Identifier
• Version
• Optional: Complete the Description field.
• Click the Expand/Publish button.
• If you see any error messages, make the required fixes and click Expand/Publish again.
• Go to the Scheduled Expansions table.
• Find the row for your scheduled expansion.
• Click the Details link and view your expansion details.
• Let the expansion publish overnight.

View Expansion History and Details

• In the Authoring tab, select the Steward Collection Management drop-down menu, select a collection and then select the Expansions tab.
• In the Expansions tab, navigate to the right side to see the Collection Expansion History window.
• Select a published collection from the drop-down menu.
• Go to the Collection Expansion History table that populates at the bottom.
• In the # Value Sets column, navigate to the details link to view the expansion details that include Collection Name, Value Sets, User, Expansion Profile, Expansion Profile, Expansion Profile, Expansion Version, and Expansion Date. Additionally, a Value Sets in Collection window will be appear beneath the Expansion Details section.

Figure 4: Value Set Authoring Steward Collection Management, Expansions tab.

VSAC FHIR API

For more information, see the Collection Expansions section on the VSAC FHIR API page.

Last Reviewed: August 3, 2026