Community Master Patient Index (MPI) Project
Endorsed by MA-SHARE Advisory Committee - January 14, 2004
Vision
To become informed on the issues relevant to the design of a community
master patient index for Massachusetts.
Sponsors
The work of the Community MPI Project is sponsored by the Consortium's
CIO Forum.
Project Description
A critical component of a community clinical connectivity model
is the identification of patients through a Master Patient Index
(MPI). Patients are currently identified through a variety of schemes,
including Insurance Subscriber Numbers, Medical Record Numbers,
and Social Security Numbers. Typically, a MPI creates pointers
to all of the identifiers that exist for a specific patient.
One solution to this fragmented model is the implementation of
a Unique Patient Identifier (UPI). The Federal Government has done
a great deal of work examining approaches to a UPI (including the
potential use of the Social Security Number), before making the
decision that they should not take a position on this issue. Many
governments in other countries have implemented UPIs. Vendors that
have developed integrated healthcare technology solutions have
had to decide on an approach to UPIs.
The ability to create and use a UPI among multiple participants
in the health care community is based on the recognition and presence
a minimum set of key identifying elements. Some systems in current
use in health care utilize a scheme based on key elements to establish
unique identities for patients within their internal systems, rather
than issuing new specific identifiers. A similar methodology/scheme
may be applicable to the MA-SHARE community model.
The CIO Forum feels that it is important that MA-SHARE make an "informed
judgment" on UPIs. The final product of this project is a
White Paper describing the current state-of-the-art is re: UPIs.
Specifically the White Paper will:
- Identify and describe UPI models that have been considered
and/or implemented
- Compare the UPI models, including key elements used for identification
; evaluate their strengths and weaknesses
- Outline the implications for MA-SHARE
Activities to date (latest at the top)
- April, 2004: Final
report and Vendor
Appendix submitted to the Consortium
- March, 2004: Draft report circulated and presented to the CIO
Forum
- January, 2004: Consulting Agreement signed with John St. George
- November, 2003: MA-SHARE project
proposal prepared
This page last updated April 21, 2005
For further information regarding the MA-SHARE initiative and
its projects, please contact Gail Fournier, Partner, CSC Consulting, via
e-mail. We welcome your further questions & look
forward to your participation in our work and our events!
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