Final answer:
The statement is false; when searching EMPI, choosing a patient record based solely on the highest return weight is not the correct practice. It is crucial to review all matches and use multiple identifiers to ensure patient safety and accuracy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement "When searching EMPI, always choose the patient with the highest return weight." is false. EMPI stands for Enterprise Master Patient Index, a system that uniquely identifies patients across different healthcare settings to consolidate their information. When selecting a patient's record, the return weight is a measure of confidence or likelihood that a record matches the search criteria. While a higher return weight could mean a better match, one should not solely rely on the return weight. Accuracy in patient identification is critical in healthcare to avoid errors in treatment and to maintain patient safety. It's essential that the healthcare professional reviews all potentially matching records and uses more identifiers to ensure the correct patient is selected rather than just relying on return weight.