RAND Corp., a centrist think tank, conducted a literature review of “patient-empowered” record matching approaches and interviewed 12 subject-matter experts to identify a three-stage solution to patient matching. It then reviewed the three-step solution through a second set of interviews with 20 SMEs. The report was sponsored by PEW Charitable Trusts.
According to the analysis, hospitals and health providers could use information from patients’ mobile phones — such as their phone number — to confirm a patient’s identity. That way, a provider could match records with a higher degree of accuracy and streamline the check-in process by allowing patients to supply updated identity information through apps.
The researchers warn that more work is required to refine these methods, though.
“Tools and methods that allow an individual’s mobile phone or smartphone to be used for improving medical record matching among different health providers appear to be particularly promising for a patient-empowered approach to the problem,” Robert Rudin, PhD, lead author of the report and an information scientist at RAND Corp., said in a press release. “But these methods will require development and testing.”
They suggested several components for moving forward with a smartphone-based strategy, including:
- developing technical specifications;
- developing prototypes to use in pilot programs; and
- establishing an organization to oversee progress.
To access the report, click here.
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