This is an update of a 1993 WEDI foundation report on healthcare automation. The report has several items that deal with patient identification.
On page 17 the report states the first patient engagement recommendation as "Standardize the patient identification process acoss the healthcare system.
On page 54 the report makes a HUGE MISTAKE when it recommends "Use the Social Security Number as a patient identification number."
This is a major error for many reasons that include:
1. Use of the SSN represents an unacceptable privacy and identity theft risk.
2. Not all persons who need medical care have an SSN.
3. There is no mechanism to replace an SSN that has been used in fraud.
Nonetheless the WEDI report makes interesting reading. Enjoy!
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