System and method for implementing a global master patient index

Abstract

Separate computer systems may participate in a Health Data Network (HDN) such that the computer systems are linked so as to share various types of healthcare-related information. The shared information may include patient record information. The integration of the patient record information is accomplished by maintaining a Global Master Patient Index (GMPI). Such a GMPI may integrate patient record information used by multiple healthcare organizations, facilities, or businesses. Such a GMPI may also integrate patient record information for a single business having multiple sites or computer systems, e.g., a large hospital. The GMPI preferably provides for performing functions such as locating patient records, locating duplicate records for a selected patient, printing a selected patient record with all its duplicate patient records, reconciling potential duplicate patient records found while searching and retrieving a patient's record final reconciliation (certification) of suspected duplicate patients records, maintaining a persistent relationship between patient records in the GMPI, and maintaining a reconciliation audit trail.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method for maintaining a Global Master Patient Index (GMPI), the method comprising: 
 receiving information specifying changes to a patient record;    performing a search through one or more databases for one or more matching records that match the patient record, in response to the received information; and    if one or more matching records are found, creating an unconfirmed link between the patient record and each matching record.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , 
 wherein the information specifying changes to a patient record is information specifying a new patient record;    wherein said performing a search through one or more databases comprises performing a search for one or more records that match the new patient record.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , 
 wherein said performing the search through one or more databases for one or more matching records that match the patient record is based on real world primary key information.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 performing a search for a patient record in response to user input search criteria;    displaying a list of records that match the search criteria, wherein the list includes a set of two or more records that have unconfirmed links between the records;    receiving user input selecting one of the records from the set;    receiving user input specifying confirmation information for the unconfirmed links.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , 
 wherein in response to the confirmation information for an unconfirmed link the link is either: 1) confirmed or 2) denigrated.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 receiving user input changing a confirmed link to a certified link.