Validate an Address

Use the Address Validation workflow when you need to ensure that the address is deliverable and that data entry is complete and formatted.

You can perform this action when adding or editing a patient record, or during check in for home, mailing, and work addresses. Address validation can also occur for home addresses when you add a new person as a proxy, guarantor, or caregiver.

Additionally, address validation automatically corrects spelling and abbreviations, adds the ZIP+4 value, and adds the following elements, if missing:

  • State
  • City
  • Country

To validate an address, after you have entered or modified an address, select Validate. Oracle Health validates the address with the USPS database.

Note:

An address line and either the postal code or city and state are required to validate an address.
  • If the address is valid, a Validated indicator is displayed for 30 days.
  • If the address is not valid, view the list of address validation sub-statuses below.
  • You can update the address and re-run address validation, or you can choose to accept the invalid address.
  • If you accept the invalid address, an Accepted indicator is displayed for 30 days.

Address Validation Sub-Statuses

  • No Zip+4 Code Assigned: This is a record listed by the USPS on the national ZIP+4 file as a nondeliverable location. Oracle Health recommends that you verify the accuracy of the submitted address.
  • Missing Secondary Number: USPS information indicates that this address is a building. The address as submitted does not contain an apartment or suite number. Oracle Health recommends that you check the submitted address and add the missing apartment or suite number to ensure accuracy.
  • Incorrect Secondary Number: The secondary information (in other words, floor, suite, apartment, or box number) does not match that on the USPS file. This secondary information, although present on the input address, was not valid in the range found on the USPS file.
  • Multiple response due to Magnet Street Syndrome: The search resulted in a single response; however, the record matched was flagged as having magnet street syndrome and the input street name components (pre-directional, primary street name, post-directional, and suffix) did not exactly match those of the record. A magnet street is one having a primary street name that is also a suffix or a directional word, having either a post-directional or a suffix (in other words, 2200 PARK MEMPHIS TN logically matches to a ZIP+4 record 2200-2258 PARK AVE MEMPHIS TN 38114-6610), but the input address lacks the suffix ‘AVE’ which is present on the ZIP+4 record. The primary street name PARK is a suffix word. The record has either a suffix or a post-directional present. Therefore, in accordance with CASS requirements, a ZIP+4 Code must not be returned. The multiple response return code is given since a no match would prevent access to the best candidate.
  • Unofficial Post Office Name: The city or post office name in the submitted address is not recognized by the USPS as an official last line name (preferred city name) and is not acceptable as an alternate name. This denotes an error, and the preferred city name is provided as output.
  • Unverifiable City/State: The city and state in the submitted address could not be verified as corresponding to the given 5-digit ZIP Code. This comment does not necessarily denote an error; however, Oracle Health recommends that you check the city and state in the submitted address for accuracy.
  • Small Town Default: Some records that do not have an exact match in the USPS reference data can still be processed. For an unmatched street address but with valid city and state or ZIP Code, if the street address does not match the USPS reference data, the address qualifies as a small town default.