What is considered the authoritative resource for locating a health record?

The master patient index (MPI) is regarded as the authoritative resource for locating a health record because it serves as a comprehensive database that maintains accurate demographic information about all patients served by a healthcare organization. The primary purpose of the MPI is to ensure that each patient has a unique identifier, preventing duplication and confusion within health records. This central repository facilitates efficient retrieval of patient data, aiding healthcare providers in accessing the correct information quickly.

The MPI is crucial for managing patient data across various systems, including electronic health records and health information management systems, but it specifically focuses on maintaining and organizing patient identities. As a result, it plays a pivotal role in ensuring the accuracy, integrity, and accessibility of health records, making it the authoritative source for finding a patient’s health record.

In contrast, while electronic health records and health information management systems contain patient records, they rely on the MPI for accurate identification of patients. The patient chart provides clinical information about individual patient encounters but does not serve as a comprehensive index for all patients within a healthcare organization.