Final answer:
In an EMPI, searches typically involve five key data elements: Full Name, Date of Birth, Gender, Social Security Number, and Medical Record Number, which help in accurately identifying patient records.
Step-by-step explanation:
In healthcare, an Enterprise Master Patient Index (EMPI) is a database that is used to maintain consistent, accurate patient identifiers across multiple healthcare organizations. When performing a search in an EMPI, there are five key data elements typically used to ensure the correct patient record is identified:
- Full Name - The patient's legal name including first, middle, and last names.
- Date of Birth - The patient's birth date, often critical for distinguishing individuals with common names.
- Gender - The patient's gender may be used to differentiate between patients, especially those with unisex names or similar sounding names.
- Social Security Number (SSN) - A unique identifier in the United States which can help verify the identity of a patient, though its use may be restricted for privacy reasons.
- Medical Record Number (MRN) - A unique number assigned to a patient's medical record within a healthcare organization.
Using these data elements helps to reduce duplicate patient records and ensure that healthcare providers have access to the correct patient information.