Each of the requirements described in this document must be considered in the design of a national healthcare identification system. We maintain that these requirements must be addressed regardless of what implementation strategy is chosen for the final deployment of a unique healthcare identifier. For that reason, the analysis of each issue attempts to focus on the requirements to solve that issue rather than the solution that is incorporated into any particular solution. Additional information concerning the specific GPII solution is provided by the references.
When the original IOM report was published there was outrage that the equivalent of passenger jets falling from the sky was being ignored by the healthcare industry.
Many medical errors originate with patient misidentification. Isn't it time we stopped hiding this problem and implemented a solution?
From Becker's Hospital Review:
Once an individual’s identity has been compromised there is no mechanism in place to restore that person’s identity to wholeness. This document discusses why that strategic deficiency is no longer acceptable. It describes what is necessary to rectify this omission and provides an example of how this can be accomplished.
Dr. Barry Hieb is an expert in the field of patient identification. His work in this area spans several decades. He is passionate about find a solution to the problem of patient misidentification that is acceptable to all involved in healthcare delivery and that empowers patients to manage their healthcare appropriately. This paper summarizes requirements for such a solution.
This article published by Xtelligent Media suggests increasing optimism for a National Patient Identifier.
See the full article at http://healthitinteroperability.com/news/why-optimism-is-building-for-national-patient-identifier
This article by Dan Munro explains why Ireland, and many other countries, have a National Patient Identifier and we do not.
He states "... an NPI... is just not anyone's legislative priority" and suggests this is "indifference or disregard for human life and for the saftey of people".
See Dan's complete article at http://healthstandards.com/blog/2016/08/31/national-patient-identifier/
In a recent blog, John Halamka outlined his next steps for the National Healthcare agenda.
In addition to calling for the establishment of a National Patient Identifier, John also makes some interesting suggestions regarding the alignment of patient privacy laws across the country.
See John's complete article at http://geekdoctor.blogspot.com/2017/03/next-steps-for-national-healthcare-it.html