Question

The master patient index ______.

a) is the most important index maintained by the HIM department.
b) contains basic demographic information about the patient
c) is commonly part of the admission, discharge, and transfer computer system
d) all of the above

Answer 1

The master patient index includes basic patient demographics, is part of the hospital's computer system, and is the most crucial index in the HIM department, making 'd) all of the above' the correct answer.

Step-by-step explanation:

The master patient index contains basic demographic information about the patient, is commonly part of the admission, discharge, and transfer computer system, and is indeed the most important index maintained by the Health Information Management (HIM) department. Therefore, the correct answer is d) all of the above.

In relation to health records, when developing policies that must balance the costs of treatments and diagnoses, patient quality of life, and risks to individual privacy, several questions need to be considered:

• How can we ensure the policies provide the best possible quality of life for patients while keeping the treatment costs sustainable?
• What measures can we take to protect patient privacy and information in the process of delivering medical services?
• What strategies can be employed to balance diagnostic thoroughness with the need to control healthcare expenditures?