What is the main purpose of the master patient index (MPI)?

The main purpose of the master patient index (MPI) is to track patient demographics. The MPI serves as a comprehensive database that maintains accurate and up-to-date information about patients, including names, dates of birth, addresses, and other identifying details. This ensures that healthcare organizations can reliably identify and retrieve patients' medical records, avoiding duplication and ensuring continuity of care.

While storing insurance details, managing physician schedules, and facilitating billing processes are important functions within a healthcare setting, they are not the primary roles of the MPI. The MPI is specifically focused on ensuring that each patient has a unique identifier in the system, which is essential for effective patient management and data integrity across all healthcare services. This integrity in the identification process is crucial for maintaining the accuracy of patient records and enhancing the overall efficiency of healthcare delivery.