Together with The Care Connectivity Consortium, The Sequoia Project, an independent organization working toward nationwide health information exchange, has released a framework for patient matching across organizations. The framework is a draft for public review and comment.
While EHRs are a first step in interoperability and advancing patient care, the healthcare industry needs some sort of patient matching system to ensure patient data is easily sent and received between disparate systems. Many organizations name patient data matching as a persisting obstacle to seamless information exchange.
"The inability to consistently and accurately match patient data creates a number of problems for physicians and other healthcare providers," according to the framework. "With respect to patient safety and satisfaction, providers may have an incomplete view of a patient's medical history, care may not be well-coordinated with other providers treating the patient, patient records may be overlaid, unnecessary testing or improper treatment may be ordered, and patient confidence may be eroded."
The two organizations researched best practice patient matching principles and conducted a joint case study with Salt Lake City-based Intermountain Healthcare to identify areas for improvement in patient matching.
To access the case study and the framework, click here.
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