Universal Health Identifiers: Issues and Requirements for Successful Patient Information Exchange

Universal Health Identifiers: Issues and Requirements for Successful Patient Information Exchange
Lorraine Fernandes, RHIA
Scott Schumacher, PhD

The healthcare industry is moving toward a future where the electronic exchange of health data will be commonplace. As we enter this new world, there is an increased need to accurately identify an individual across jurisdictions or care-settings so that healthcare providers have a solid foundation for sharing patient health information and providing safer, more cost effective treatment.

A universal health identifier (UHI) has been discussed for years as a method for identifying individuals. UHI proponents point to the many benefits that it delivers to citizens by enabling improvements in healthcare delivery, quality and efficiency. However, now that many countries, such as the U.S., Canada, UK, Singapore and Australia, are well on their way toward implementing national, interoperable healthcare exchanges, there is a renewed debate about whether UHIs are required, or desirable.

Download from eHealthNews.eu Portal: Universal Health Identifiers: Issues and Requirements for Successful Patient Information Exchange (.pdf, 802 KB).

Related news articles:

© Copyright IBM Corporation 2010
Initiate and Initiate Master Data Service are registered trademarks in the United States and certain foreign jurisdictions.

Most Popular Now

ChatGPT 4o Therapeutic Chatbot 'Ama…

One of the first randomized controlled trials assessing the effectiveness of a large language model (LLM) chatbot 'Amanda' for relationship support shows that a single session of chatbot therapy...

AI Tools Help Predict Severe Asthma Risk…

Mayo Clinic researchers have developed artificial intelligence (AI) tools that help identify which children with asthma face the highest risk of serious asthma exacerbation and acute respiratory infections. The study...

AI Distinguishes Glioblastoma from Look-…

A Harvard Medical School–led research team has developed an AI tool that can reliably tell apart two look-alike cancers found in the brain but with different origins, behaviors, and treatments. The...

Overcoming the AI Applicability Crisis a…

Opinion Article by Harry Lykostratis, Chief Executive, Open Medical. The government’s 10 Year Health Plan makes a lot of the potential of AI-software to support clinical decision making, improve productivity, and...

Smart Device Uses AI and Bioelectronics …

As a wound heals, it goes through several stages: clotting to stop bleeding, immune system response, scabbing, and scarring. A wearable device called "a-Heal," designed by engineers at the University...

Dartford and Gravesham Implements Clinis…

Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust has taken a significant step towards a more digital future by rolling out electronic test ordering using Clinisys ICE. The trust deployed the order communications...