Patient Identification

Patient identification and patient matching directly affect the quality, safety, and efficiency of healthcare delivery. However, in a digital era of electronic health records (EHRs) and patient portals, patient identification proves increasingly complex. Effective information governance can improve accuracy while addressing common risks and challenges. Patient identification involves verifying the identity of persons seeking healthcare and matching them with the correct patient records. A rushed registration process or incorrect modifications can generate either duplicate patient records or single EHRs associated with multiple patients. Either problem can result in faulty care decisions and inhibit care coordination. For example, when registering a