Regenstrief develops framework to assess patient matching accuracy

Regenstrief Institute has developed an eight-point framework to evaluate the accuracy of algorithms used to match patient medical records. Accurate patient matching is crucial for quality of care and cost reduction, but the lack of a national patient identifier in the US has hindered progress. The framework is designed to help standardize patient matching and improve the transparency and validity of record linkage studies. Efforts for a national patient matching strategy have been ongoing, and alternative approaches such as biometrics are being considered.