Define what an MPI is...
MPI is a master patient index. It is an index of known patients within a single organization whose visits are linked together by a single identifier, usually the medical record number.
Interest in electronic MPIs has increased because of:
Interest has increased because the consolidation of healthcare organizations and the implementation of electronic health records.
What does the term eMPI stand for and what does it mean?
EMPI stands for enterprise medical patient index and it combines MPI’s of two or more organizations.
What are the functions of the MPI?
The information within an MPI is a key component in the accuracy of patient information, such as indication of allergies, medication lists, and prior visits. Accurate patient identification will allow for improvement in patient care, reduce risks, improve operational efficiencies and support information exchange.
What is an algorithm and what are the 3 algorithms discussed?
Algorithms are mathematical formulas that combine weighted data elements to determine the probability of a duplicate in order to identify potential duplicate MPI entries. The three algorithms are deterministic, rules based, and probabilistic.
What is considered to be the best algorithm and why?
The best algorithm used is probabilistic matching. It has an accuracy rate of 90 percent or higher.
How does duplicate information occur?
Duplicate information occurs when a department does not communicate with another department on entering a client’s information. It should all begin with the registration department.
How is the duplicate error rate calculated?
Duplicate information is when four of the five elements match. The five data elements are patient name, date of birth, sex, SSN, and telephone number.