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MediBase projects seeks duplicate medical records
MediBase, a project to clean up and prevent duplicate medical records, is expected to be implemented at SHC by the end of the year, announced D'Arcy Myjer, director of Health Information Management Systems.
The project will electronically "find" records which appear to reflect the same patient, prompting personnel to determine if the records should be merged.
The project consists of two related computer programs. BaseMatch will identify and electronically merge the estimated 50,000 to 100,000 errors in the Master Patient Index. BaseShield, the second component, will "sit on the shoulder of the registrar," helping to ensure that the correct medical record number is chosen during patient registration. Myjer said the system alerts staff if they attempt to assign a new medical record number to a patient when it finds matching data, such as the same address and birthdate, in a previously numbered record.
"But ultimately, the choice of whether to merge a record or assign a new record is made by a human," he said.
In addition to improving efficiency, patient record keeping and, ultimately, saving physicians time and improving care, the MediBase project will help ensure that Stanford Hospital is in compliance with provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA, when they become effective in 2003, Myjer said. Questions about the project may be directed to Rod Madamba, HIMS manager of record archiving, (650) 498-4408.
