Patient identity must be verified when scheduling, checking-in, registering, admitting a patient for service, and when responding to patient queries or requests, among other times when using or disclosing patient information. It is vitally important to identify the correct patient for many reasons, including but not limited to patient safety, protection of privacy, and proper billing.

• Per UConn Health policy, at a minimum, verify identity using the patient’s full name and date of birth. Regulation requires the use of as many identifiers as necessary to ensure identification of the correct patient.
• In addition to the UConn Health verification requirements, the Office of Healthcare Compliance and Privacy strongly recommends using at least one additional identifier, such as the last four (4) digits of the patient’s Social Security number (if available) or address.

Remember, patients may have the same or similar names and dates of birth. For example:

• Many names sound the same but are spelled differently (e.g., Katherine/Catherine or Smith/Smyth).
• Twins share a date of birth, may share a last name and may have similar first names! Minor twins, in particular, may also share an address, so using the patient’s Social Security number may be essential to accurate verification.

Also, remember:

• Double-check to ensure the correct medical record is open for the correct patient, every time.
• If you discover that more than one patient has the same name or other identifiers, do not disclose this information to the patient with whom you are speaking! (Do not say, “We have three other patients here with your same name!”)
• Direct requests to change or correct patient identifying information to Patient Access or Data Integrity.

Questions or Concerns:

• If you have questions about the Verification of Individuals Requesting Protected Health Information policy, need guidance, or have a privacy concern, please contact the Office of Healthcare Compliance and Privacy at  privacyoffice@uchc.edu or 860-679-7226.
• If you have questions regarding UConn Health verification requirements or the Core Patient Identifiers and Naming Convention policy, please contact Health Information Management at 860-679-1177.