Chapter 8

Question 1

Common uses for indexes

Answer 1

A common use is to locate a term in the index of a textbook and refer to the page number indicated.

Question 2

Indexes in health care…

Answer 2

In health care a Master Patient Index is maintained, which allows for the retrieval of patient demographic information and the medical record so the patients record can be retrieved.

Question 3

The source for Index and Register definition

Answer 3

The American Heritage Dictionary of the English language.

Question 4

What is a register?

Answer 4

A formal or official recording of names, items, or actions. A collection of information such as hospital admission/discharge registers.

Question 5

What types of registers do healthcare agencies use?

Answer 5

Admissions, discharges, births, deaths, operations, events.

Question 6

What is a registry?

Answer 6

A registry is an organized system for the collection, storage, retrieval, analysis, and dissemination of information on individuals who have either a particular disease or condition that predisposes them to the occurrence of a health related event or prior exposure to cause adverse health effects so that analysis and reviews can be performed.

Question 7

Automated Indexes and Registers

Answer 7

Are computerized, which allows for information to be easily and quickly retrieved for administrative planning, data collection, patient case management, quality of patient care, and the study of diseases and their outcomes.

Question 8

Manual Indexes and Registers

Answer 8

Require the posting of information to ledge cards and log books by hand, resulting in cumbersome process when information retrieval becomes necessary.

Question 9

Indexes, Registers, and Registries are…

Answer 9

Secondary Sources of information

Question 10

Disease Index

Answer 10

The disease index is organized according to ICD-9-CM disease codes.

Question 11

Procedure Index

Answer 11

The procedure index is organized according to ICD-9-CM and/or CPT/HCPS procedure service codes.

Question 12

Physician Index

Answer 12

The physician index is organized according to numbers assigned by the facility to physicians who treat inpatient and outpatient patients.

Question 13

Computer Interface

Answer 13

The exchange of data among multiple software products.

Question 14

Intro

Answer 14

Indexes, Registers, and Registries allow health information to be maintained and retrieved by health care facilities for the purpose of education, planning, research, etc.

Question 15

Indexes

Answer 15

Health care facilities generally maintain the following indexes: Master Patient Index, Disease Index, Procedure Index, and Physician Index

Question 16

Master Patient Index AKA

Answer 16

Master Person Index

Question 17

Master Patient Index

Answer 17

A Master Patient Index links a patients medical record with common identification data elements.

Question 18

Automated MPI

Answer 18

A computerized data base of identification information about patients who have received health care services

Question 19

ADT

Answer 19

Admission/Discharge/Transfer

Question 20

ADT System

Answer 20

Used to input patient registration information, which creates an automated MPI data base that allows for the storage and retrieval of information.

Question 21

MPI’s…

Answer 21

Because most facilities house patient recors according to a MR#, the MPI becomes key to locating paper based records in the health information department file system. Thus the MPI is retained permanently because it is the key to finding the patient’s record.

Question 22

Manual Master Patient Index

Answer 22

Requires the typing or manual posting of patient identification information and on preprinted index cards and limited information can be retrieved.

Question 23

ADT Software

Answer 23

Has the capability of generating standard reports for administrative and departmental purposes, including: Admission logs or registers, bed utilization reports, current charges reports, daily census summaries, daily discharge logs or registers, patient profiles, etc.

Question 24

Advantages and Disadvantages of Automated and Manual Systems

Answer 24

The manual MPI is relatively inexpensive to purchase compared to automated, which requires the purchasing of computer equipment, software, as well as upgrades. Automated Allows for rapid retrieval of information, although manual allows access when computer systems are unavailable, for things like power outages.

Question 25

Advantages and Disadvantages cont.

Answer 25

Manual MPI’s limit information that can be entered on each card, while automated can meet the facilities specifications for retrieval. Automated allows for retrieval of information according to phonetic filing systems, while manual systems would be lost if the patient’s information was typed incorrectly.

Question 26

Advantages and Disadvantages cont.

Answer 26

Manual requires the retrieval of information in the health information department while automated can be accessed by authorized personnel outside the HIM department. Automated captures patient information upon admission and allows for computer interfaces.

Question 27

Identification Information

Answer 27

Demographic Information

Question 28

Identification/Demographic Information

Answer 28

Name, DOB, Address, SS#, ADT dates, MR#, facility ID, type of care, etc.

Question 29

Purpose of the MPI

Answer 29

The MPI is used administratively for continuity of care and externally it serves as the customer data base for the hc organization

Question 30

Avoiding duplicate records

Answer 30

To avoid duplicate records information should be entered in to the MPI by one department that has control of the assignment of MR#s, usually the admission department generates or updates the MPI in coordination with the facilities HIM department.

Question 31

Index

Answer 31

An index serves to guide, point out, or otherwise facilitate reference, especially an alphabetized list of names places, and subject treated in a printed work, giving the page or pages on which items are mentioned.

Question 32

Registers and registries

Answer 32

Contain information about a disease or event are maintained by individual health care facilities, federal and state government agencies and private organizations.

Question 33

Admission Register

Answer 33

Usually maintained by the admissions office, is organized by admission date, contents include patient’s name, patient number, admitting physician, etc.

Question 34

Discharge Register

Answer 34

Usually maintained by the HIM department and are orangized according to discharge date and contain the patients name, patient number, attending physician, admission date, discharge date, disposition and type of service.

Question 35

Death Register

Answer 35

Usually maintained by the HIM departmet and organized according to date of death, includes patient names, number, physician, date of death, etc.

Question 36

Uses for information collected

Answer 36

Estimating the magnitude of a proglem, determining the incidence of disease, assessing service delivery and identifying high risk groups, documenting types of patients served, conducting research, a source of potential donors, and participants in clinical trials.

Question 37

Vital Statistics

Answer 37

Are often compiled for events which include deaths, births, marriages, divorces, etc.