What should be done if a single high threshold match is found in patient identity duplicate checking?

When a single high threshold match is found during patient identity duplicate checking, the most appropriate action is to file a message to the existing patient. This is necessary because it indicates that there is a strong possibility that a duplicate record is present, and thoughtful communication with the existing record can help verify the accuracy of patient information and ensure that it is correctly linked.

Filing a message allows the system or staff to flag the issue for further review, prompting the healthcare team to investigate the match and determine whether the patient is indeed a duplicate or if there are valid reasons for the similarities found in the records. This approach minimizes the risk of creating an entirely new patient record, which could lead to fragmentation of patient health information and compromise the quality of care provided.

In contrast to the correct action, creating a new patient would undermine the integrity of patient data management and could result in incomplete medical records. Logging an error might signal an issue, but it does not facilitate the resolution of the duplicate identity, and initiating further investigation, while potentially necessary, would typically follow the preliminary step of filing a message for clarity on the existing patient record.