Patient Mix-ups by Health Providers and the Case for National Patient Identifiers

An interesting article from Stat News on the frequency of patient mis-identification by health providers nationally through error.  The article cites a study from the Rand Corporation that states nationally health providers mismatch patients and records 8 percent of the time on average.  The article discusses the ‘fix’ – the unique (national) patient identifier. Even as health providers are demanding better identification technology to manage their expanding electronic records, and some are pushing the idea in Washington, the identifier idea faces many obstacles, including strong political resistance.

Read more:

• Patient mix-ups happen more often than you think.  Why the easy fix isn’t easy at all. Stat News.
• An Examination of the Costs and Benefits of a Unique Patient Identifier for the U.S. Health Care System.  The Rand Corporation.