What Are Patient Identifiers

The glossary of the accreditation manual defines a patient identifier as “Information directly associated with an individual that reliably identifies the individual as the person for whom the service or treatment is intended.

What are the 5 patient identifiers?

• Name.
• Assigned identification number (e.g., medical record number)
• Date of birth.
• Phone number.
• Social security number.
• Address.
• Photo.

What is an identifier in healthcare?

A unique patient identifier (UPI) is a method for standardizing patient identification. Individuals are assigned a unique code, and that code, rather than a Social Security Number, name, or address, is what is used by healthcare organizations to identify and manage patient information.