scope:

Introduction

This Technical Specification indicates the data elements and structure suited to accurate and procedurally appropriate and sensitive identification of individuals in health care in a face-to-face setting supported by computer technology, or through interactions between computer systems. It provides guidelines for improving the positive identification of subjects of care within and between health care organizations.

It defines demographic and other identifying data elements suited to capture, and the wide variety of manual and computer-enhanced procedures used for subject of care identification in health care settings. It also provides guidance on their application in the manual and the computer environment and makes recommendations about the nature and form of health care identifiers, the management organization to oversee subject of care identification, and computer support to be provided for the identification process.

There are additional factors to be considered in providing access to distributed subject of care data, including privacy, security and data transfer mechanisms. These are outside the scope of this Technical Specification. Application of this Technical Specification will increase the capacity for data access. Authorization of such access is determined by the application of legislation, organizational policies and guidelines and professional ethics.

It is recognized that specific applications may require additional data to fulfil their purpose. This Technical Specification provides a generic set of identifying information, which is application-independent. Implementations in different health care environments and national settings may require the establishment of data sub-sets or priorities.