Final answer:
The Master Patient Index (MPI) is the primary tool used to identify and locate a patient's health records in a healthcare facility, containing unique identifiers and personal information that enable efficient record management.
Step-by-step explanation:
The key to the identification and location of a patient's health record is the Master Patient Index (MPI). MPI is an electronic database that holds information on every patient registered at a healthcare facility. It serves as a key resource in managing patient information and is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the medical records system. An MPI typically includes each patient's name, date of birth, gender, race, ethnicity, and unique patient identifier, among other data.
When a healthcare provider needs to access a patient's health records, they will use the MPI to rapidly and accurately locate the appropriate files, thus ensuring that correct and efficient care is provided. Other options listed, such as disease index, outguide, and deficiency slip are all components of medical record management, but they don't serve the primary function of identifying and locating patient records as directly as the MPI does.