Certified Revenue Cycle Representative (CRCR) Practice Exam

What is a serious consequence of misidentifying a patient in the MPI?

1. The patient may face higher medical bills

2. The services will be documented in the wrong record

3. Patients may not receive timely care

4. Insurance claims could be denied

The correct answer is: The services will be documented in the wrong record

Misidentifying a patient in the Master Patient Index (MPI) leads to significant issues within the healthcare system, with the most pronounced consequence being that services will be documented in the wrong record. When patient information is not accurately linked to the correct individual, all treatments, procedures, and diagnostic tests can be incorrectly attributed. This not only creates confusion but also can result in inaccurate medical histories, which are crucial for effective patient care. Medical professionals rely on the MPI for coherent and accurate information pertaining to a patient's history, allergies, medications, and previous treatments. If services are unassigned or logged mistakenly, it compromises the overall accuracy of medical records which can impact the quality of care that a patient receives. It can lead to inappropriately informed clinical decisions, potentially endangering the patient's health and safety. While higher medical bills, timely care issues, and insurance claim denials are certainly serious concerns, they stem from the fundamental problem of incorrect data management, which begins with the MPI error that misidentifies the patient and records services incorrectly.