EMPI — Enterprise Master Patient Index for Health Networks

What Is EMPI?

The EMPI (Enterprise Master Patient Index) is a centralized system that maintains a single, accurate identity for each patient across multiple information systems and care sites. Its primary function is to resolve duplicates, merge records, and ensure patient data integrity in complex health networks where different systems may independently generate records for the same individual.

In a multi-site health network, it is common for the same patient to be registered at different facilities with variations in name, identification number, or demographic data. Without an EMPI, these records remain siloed, potentially leading to fragmented clinical histories, duplicate tests, and — in the worst case — clinical errors due to incomplete information. EMPI uses probabilistic and deterministic matching algorithms to identify and link records belonging to the same patient.

Major hospital technology vendors — Oracle Health, Epic, and InterSystems — position EMPI as an essential component of their platforms. In the Latin American context, EMPI gains particular relevance with interoperability initiatives like Peru's RENHICE, which requires unambiguous patient identification for clinical data exchange between facilities.

Why It Matters in Healthcare

• Single patient identity: Ensures each patient has one master record regardless of how many facilities or systems have registered them, eliminating clinical history fragmentation.
• Clinical safety: Prevents errors from incomplete information: a physician who cannot see an allergy recorded at another site, or a duplicated lab result from failing to recognize the same patient.
• Interoperability prerequisite: Systems like RENHICE and referral and counter-referral workflows between facilities depend on correct patient identification to function.
• Operational efficiency: Reduces duplicate records, eliminates the need to re-register known patients, and saves administrative time during admission.
• Data integrity for analytics: A well-implemented EMPI improves data quality for reporting, clinical research, and business intelligence.
• Record merging and deduplication: Enables identification and merging of existing duplicate records, progressively improving patient database quality.

How Davix Relates to EMPI

• Integrated master patient index: Davix HIS includes EMPI capabilities that maintain a unified record for each patient across all sites in the network.
• Duplicate detection algorithms: The system uses matching algorithms to identify potential duplicates at the point of registration, alerting administrative staff before a new record is created.
• Controlled record merging: Enables secure merging of duplicate records, consolidating all clinical and administrative information into a single patient profile with complete traceability.
• Native multi-site support: Designed for multi-site health networks, Davix manages patient identity centrally, ensuring consistency across all sites from day one.
• National registry connectivity: Davix's EMPI facilitates linking with national registries like RENHICE, ensuring patient identity consistency in nationwide data exchange.

In a health network, one patient means one record. Davix HIS ensures that identity with a master patient index designed for multi-site operations at scale.