An Introduction To Effective MPI Management

By Robin Altendorf, MA, RHIA

An accurate Master Patient – or Person – Index is arguably the most fundamental and important resource in a healthcare provider organization. The MPI, also known as an Enterprise Master Patient Index (EMPI), contains critical information necessary for the prompt location of every patient's complete and accurate medical record. It is the link to track patient activity across care settings in an enterprise or health information exchange.

Many healthcare organizations have MPI databases in one or more systems operating independently within a single facility, multiple facilities, or at satellite locations in remote areas. Such databases may also be focused on a particular departmental operation, or shared across multiple departments or other functional areas. Managing and maintaining data integrity in these disparate systems is a health information management challenge that requires coordination of people, processes, and technology.