System Record and SBR Components for Sun Master Patient Index

In Sun Master Patient Index, each system record and SBR in a patient profile contains a set of sub-objects that store different types of information about the patient. Generally, a record contains a parent object and several child objects. By default, the parent object is a person object, which is associated with these child objects: address, telephone, alias, auxiliary ID, and comment. A record can have only one parent object, but can have multiple child objects and multiple instances of each child object with each instance being identified by a unique field. For example, a record can only contain one patient name and social security number (contained in the parent object), but could have multiple addresses and telephone numbers (contained in child objects). Each address must be of a different type, such as a home address, billing address, or mailing address.

The Person Object

The person object is the primary object in a system record or SBR, and stores demographic information about a patient. Each record can have only one person object. By default, the person object of the SBR contains the information from each system that is determined to be the best information by the survivor calculator. Certain fields must be entered in the person object in order to save a patient profile. By default, these fields include first and last names, date of birth, and gender.

Address Objects

Address objects store a patient’s address information in a system record or SBR. Each address is identified by an address type. Each system record or SBR can store multiple addresses, but can only store one address of each type. For example, a record can have a home and a business address, but cannot have two home addresses. By default, the survivor calculator determines which system record addresses to store in the SBR by looking at all system record addresses. If each address type is unique, then all addresses are included in the SBR. If there are multiple addresses of one type, the survivor calculator determines which address to store in the SBR.

Phone Objects

Phone objects store a patient’s telephone numbers in a system record or SBR. Each telephone number is identified by a phone type. Each system record or SBR can store multiple telephone numbers, but can only store one number of each type. For example, a record can have a home and a cellular telephone number, but cannot have two home telephone numbers. By default, the survivor calculator determines which system record telephone numbers to store in the SBR by looking at all system record numbers. If each phone type is unique, then all telephone numbers are included in the SBR. If there are multiple telephone numbers of one type, the survivor calculator determines which number to store in the SBR.

Alias Objects

Alias objects store nicknames, maiden names, or any other names used by a patient. Each system record or SBR can have multiple alias names. By default, all unique alias names from each system record in a patient profile are included in the SBR. If two system records contain identical alias objects, then only one of those objects is stored in the SBR.

AuxId Objects

AuxId objects store a patient’s auxiliary IDs in a system record or SBR. Auxiliary IDs are identifiers assigned to a patient that are not necessarily unique to each patient. For example, they can be used to store a credit card number for a joint credit card, an account number for a joint checking account, or an insurance policy number for a policy that covers all members of a family. Each system record or SBR can store multiple auxiliary IDs. By default, all auxiliary IDs from each system record in a patient profile are included in the SBR. If two system records contain identical auxiliary ID objects, then only one of those objects is stored in the SBR.

Comment Objects

Additional information about patients appears in the form of comments. Comment objects contain free-form fields in which you can enter information about a patient that does not appear in standard Patient EDM fields. Each comment you add to a patient profile must include a comment code that is unique for the patient profile. This code is used to identify the comment. By default, the survivor calculator determines which system record comments to store in the SBR by looking at all system record comments. If each comment type is unique, then all comments are included in the SBR. If there are multiple comments of one type, the survivor calculator determines which comment to store in the SBR.

Comments can be used to store information about such issues as resolving or merging potential duplicates or reasons for merging or unmerging profiles. They can also be used to store additional information about a patient, such as recording information from a conversation with the patient.