How many patient identifiers should be used to confirm a patient's identity?

Using two patient identifiers, such as name and date of birth, is considered best practice in confirming a patient's identity. This approach helps ensure patient safety and reduces the risk of errors in administering medications, treatments, or procedures. By using at least two identifiers, healthcare providers can increase the likelihood of accurately matching the patient to their records, reducing the potential for mix-ups that could lead to serious consequences.

While it might seem beneficial to use more identifiers, the standard practice is to stick with two because it strikes an effective balance between ensuring accuracy and maintaining efficiency in a clinical setting. In many healthcare facilities, additional identifiers, like medical record numbers, are used for further verification but are not necessary as primary identifiers. Therefore, using a combination of the patient's name and date of birth is a reliable method for patient identification that aligns with the policies in many healthcare systems.