Positive Patient Identification: The foundation of effective healthcare

New survey results reveal why mistakes at registration put hospitals and patients at risk

As the healthcare industry has transitioned to digital health records, patient misidentification has become all too common, generating dangerous consequences that impact patients and the hospital’s revenue cycle. The 2016 National Patient Misidentification Report from the Ponemon Institute recently revealed that that the #1 cause of patient misidentification is incorrect identification made at registration. Survey respondents, 503 top-level healthcare executives and care providers across the U.S., agreed that patient misidentification can lead to medical errors, duplicate medical records, loss of clinical productivity, and negative financial performance.  

Key findings from the report include:

While respondents agreed on the risks that can occur due to patient misidentification, 75% also agreed that biometric technologies can increase positive patient identification and improve the patient and clinical experience. A 1:1 correlation between a patient’s identity and their medical records is the most effective way to accurately identify a patient at the point of care.

For more information on the unfavorable effects of patient misidentification, view the 2016 National Patient Misidentification Report at https://www.imprivata.com/blog/4-statistics-prove-theres-patient-identification-crisis read recent media coverage from Healthcare Informatics, Healthcare Dive, and HealthData Management, and Becker’s Healthcare.