Epic Skills Assessment Patient Data Management 1

Question 1

In an EHR, what is an 'Enterprise Master Patient Index' (EMPI)?

Accepted Answer

A system that assigns and maintains a unique patient identifier across all facilities in a health system to prevent duplicate patient records

Answer

An EMPI is the authoritative patient identity management system. It assigns a unique medical record number (MRN) to each patient across all sites, using matching algorithms to identify duplicates and maintain a single, accurate patient identity.

Question 2

What are the required HIPAA 'minimum necessary' principles for accessing patient information?

Accepted Answer

Access only the minimum amount of PHI (protected health information) necessary to accomplish the intended purpose

Answer

HIPAA's minimum necessary standard requires healthcare workers to access only the PHI required for their specific job function. This limits exposure of sensitive data and reduces the risk of unauthorized disclosure.

Question 3

What is a 'duplicate medical record,' and what risks does it create?

Accepted Answer

Two or more records existing for the same patient, creating risk of incomplete medical history, medication errors, duplicate testing, and incorrect treatment

Answer

Duplicate records split a patient's clinical history across two or more MRNs. Clinicians may not see the complete picture, leading to repeated tests, missed allergies, incorrect medication history, and treatment decisions based on incomplete information.

Question 4

What is the difference between 'demographic data' and 'clinical data' in a patient record?

Accepted Answer

Demographic data identifies the patient (name, DOB, address, insurance); clinical data documents the patient's health (diagnoses, medications, labs, notes)

Answer

Demographic data (administrative data) includes identifying and contact information used for registration, insurance, and communication. Clinical data encompasses all health-related information: diagnoses, medications, allergies, lab results, imaging, and notes.

Question 5

In EHR patient data management, what is 'data integrity'?

Accepted Answer

The accuracy, completeness, and consistency of patient data throughout its lifecycle in the health record

Answer

Data integrity ensures that clinical data is accurate, complete, consistent, and not corrupted. Poor data integrity (incorrect allergies, wrong dates, erroneous values) directly endangers patient safety and compromises clinical decision-making.

Epic Skills Assessment Practice Test

Epic Skills Assessment Practice Test

Epic Skills Assessment Patient Data Management 1