Assessing variation in utilisation of master patient indexing in medical record systems
by Daniel P. Lorence, Amanda Spink, Robert Jameson
International Journal of Healthcare Technology and Management (IJHTM), Vol. 4, No. 5, 2002

Abstract: Adoption of evidence-based health information systems in service organisations has resulted in recognition of information consistency as a key area of both strategic and operational technology planning. Information managers are faced with their emerging role in implementing regulatory standards for information collection and application in the day-to-day delivery of health care. In the USA, rigid database practice and performance standards and regulations related to information management have met with some resistance from providers, who have traditionally found little relevance between personalised healthcare practice and accurate information. In the emerging information-intensive healthcare environment, managers are beginning to understand the importance of formal, continuous information management. Variation in patient identification systems poses quality problems in such an environment, since it precludes comparative assessments across larger markets or areas, a critical component of evidence-based quality measurement. In this study, a national survey of health information managers was employed to provide a benchmark of the degree of such variation, examining how implementation of the master patient index varies across area indicators. Findings here suggest that managers continue to ignore, to some extent, regulatory standards, despite nationwide regulations, which mandate consistent and accurate patient identification and related indicators. The level of adoption of a master index in this study varied significantly across practice characteristics and areas, suggesting the existence of barriers to cross-market comparative assessment. Implications for healthcare service delivery in an evidence-based environment are further examined and discussed.

Online publication date: Thu, 17-Jul-2003

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