With no existing solution, accurately matching patients to their health records remains a key challenge for health systems, according to a report from Pew Charitable Trusts.
Although most hospitals have adopted an EHR, theses systems aren't interoperable — a roadblock to accurate patient matching, as patients often see at least 10 different physicians at dozens of office visits per year, according to the report.
"Unfortunately, patient matching rates vary widely, with healthcare facilities failing to link records for the same patient as often as half the time," the report states. "Deficiencies in matching patients to their records can lead to safety problems … [and] failures to effectively match patients can also be costly, leading to repeat tests and delays in care."
Here are four approaches Pew said healthcare organizations might consider to improve patient matching:
1. Unique identifiers, such as biometrics — body measurements specific to a person, such as a fingerprint
2. Patient-empowered approaches, such as a smartphone app or portal that would allow a patient to ensure their records are matched correctly
3. Refined demographic standards, in which organizations use the same demographic data elements formatted in the same way
4. Referential matching, such as using data collected outside of healthcare — from credit bureaus, for example
"Long-term opportunities to develop the infrastructure include the following: entrusting a single organization to oversee a nationwide patient-matching strategy; launching pilot projects for patients to use their smartphones to help match records; and determining the infrastructure and standards necessary for using biometrics and other technologies for effective and secure matching in a way that protects privacy," the report states.
To access the complete report, click here.