For example, the organization may put a heavier scoring weight on date of birth and phone number because there is more consistency and more accuracy in those patient identifiers from that particular data source. But in some data sets, phone numbers may not be accurately collected because that data source serves a more transient population. In those cases, healthcare organizations should put a lower scoring weight on phone numbers.

The essential data quality KPIs
To accurately identify patients and match them with their records, healthcare organizations should focus on four key performance indicators (KPIs):
1. Duplicate patient record rate
This metric measures the percentage of duplicate patient records within the organization's database. It reflects the accuracy and effectiveness of patient matching processes. The goal is to reduce the duplicate record rate to less than 1% through improved data quality practices.

2. Name accuracy rate
As basic as it may seem, patients’ first and last names aren’t always recorded accurately or consistently by different healthcare organizations. The slightest variations in spelling, use of initials in lieu of full names, or inconsistent inclusion of middle names can result in duplicate patient records not being identified and fixed.

This KPI assesses the accuracy and consistency of patients' first and last names recorded by different healthcare organizations. It measures the percentage of correctly recorded names, accounting for spelling variations, initials, and middle names. The objective is to achieve a high name accuracy rate to avoid creating duplicate patient records.

3. Date of birth matching rate
Patients today commonly are asked for their date of birth when they visit a healthcare provider or contact a payer. If the date of birth listed in a healthcare organization’s files doesn’t match the date given by the patient, that organization may choose not to provide services.

Using this KPI allows organizations to evaluate the consistency of patients' date of birth across different healthcare providers. It measures the percentage of matches between the date of birth provided by the patient and the date recorded in the organization's files. The goal is to ensure a high matching rate, minimizing errors and potential service denials due to mismatched data.

4. Phone number/mailing address consistency rate
The accuracy and consistency of patients' phone numbers or mailing addresses is the fourth patient identification KPI. It measures the percentage of cases where special characters, formatting, or data structure variations impact the ability to match and update patient information accurately. The purpose is to maintain a high consistency rate by implementing standardized formats and data entry practices.

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