A medical record number (MRN) is a unique identifier assigned to a patient in an electronic health record (EHR), practice management, or healthcare IT system. The MRN is used to keep track of medical history, diagnoses, treatments, and other important information related to patient care.
Benefits of Using MRNs in Healthcare
MRNs have many essential benefits in healthcare settings and for patients. The ability to use a single, unique number to access all the information on a specific patient has the following benefits.
Reduced Medical Errors and Enhanced Patient Safety
Medical errors, such as incorrectly prescribed medication or inappropriate procedures, can have severe and lasting effects on patients. Studies show that 400,000 patients experience preventable harm every year and more than 200,000 patient deaths are caused by preventable medical errors each year.
Some of these errors are inevitably caused by physicians and surgeons not having access to the correct information. The MRN helps ensure that all personnel always see the same record for a particular patient, with no chance of accidentally reviewing someone else’s data.
Fast Access to Patient Medical Histories
MRNs, in tandem with EHRs, allow medical personnel to quickly access the full medical history of any patient. They can review allergies, medication history, and other aspects that could impact the next stage of decision-making for treatment programmes.
Better Exchange of Data Between Health Systems
MRNs, when integrated with EHRs and related systems, facilitate more accurate and rapid exchanges of data between systems. It’s easy to update a system when the relevant data is held in a record with one unique identifier.
How Medical Record Numbers Are Assigned and Managed
Medical record numbers are assigned at a healthcare facility by a system that manages demographic data. MRNs can be alphanumeric and are typically generated by the healthcare provider's electronic health information technology (HIT) or EHR systems.
The MRN serves as a reference point for all of the patient’s medical records. MRNs are used to access and update the patient’s health information across multiple visits and interactions with the healthcare system. It can also serve as a unique identifier across multiple HIT/EHR systems.
What are the Advantages of the MRN for Patients?
Patients gain the confidence that, with the MRN, they know that the physician or other medical professional is definitely reviewing their most up-to-date medical records. In many cases, the patient may even have access to a portal where they can view their own medical records.
Where patients have a common name, searching via personal details is potentially disastrous. A doctor may prescribe medication for one John Smith that could kill them — because they searched for the patient record by name, not MRN. MRNs keep patients safe and healthy and ensure the right care is provided.
How Patients Can Find Their MRN
The MRN is usually a collection of letters and numbers found on documents provided to you by a hospital, clinic, or other medical setting. The number will usually be marked as MRN, as shown here:
Common Documents Containing MRN
Some documents that usually feature both a patient’s name and their MRN include:
A hospital discharge letter
A request to attend a clinic or other medical facility
Bills directly from your healthcare provider
Records within the EHR patient portal
Patients unsure of their MRN should contact their healthcare provider to inquire about how it can be found. MRNs may differ from facility to facility, with an independent clinic holding a different patient MRN to a major hospital. The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) reports that many organizations are now advocating for a National Strategy for Patient Identification. In the future, all facilities and medical professionals may have the same MRN for all medical information for a single patient.
How TempDev Can Help With Medical Record Numbers
TempDev's team of NextGen consultants, developers, and trainers support your needs whether you’re looking to implement, switch, or upgrade your current EHR system. From dashboards and revenue cycle consulting to automation and workflow redesign, TempDev offers the tools you need to make the most of your NextGen EHR system, with top tips and tricks that will ensure your success now and in the future.
MRN Integration into EHR Systems
Talk to TempDev about creating an MRN system for your healthcare facility and integrating it with your NextGen EHR systems. We have experts who can help you ensure that your EHR is accessible for all your employees and utilizes a logical and efficient MRN system.
Customizing MRN/EHR Workflows
Create MRN policies and protocols that match the requirements of your facility. TempDev can help you optimise the efficiency of all aspects of your EHR system.
Reporting and Tracking
Use MRNs to track patient numbers and discover what’s driving particular trends in your healthcare organization. With the right support, you can use this data to optimise revenue cycles.
With TempDev's NextGen dashboards, templates, and reports, you can better support your patients' needs. Our team is here to help you design, organize, and implement effective EHR systems, providing expert guidance based on industry best practices.
Contact us here or by calling us at 888.TEMP.DEV to get the help you need in configuring MRNs.
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