What is an acceptable method of patient identification?

Requesting that the patient provide their name and date of birth is a widely accepted method of patient identification because it leverages two distinct pieces of personal information to confirm identity. This dual verification method minimizes the chance of errors, ensuring that the healthcare provider is addressing the correct patient.

Asking for just a name might lead to confusion when multiple patients share the same name, making it less reliable as a standalone identifier. Utilizing a medical record number, while effective, may not be ideal if the patient is not familiar with their own records or in urgent situations. Confirming the last visit date can sometimes be helpful, but it relies on the patient's memory and might not effectively verify their identity without other corroborating details. Therefore, asking for both name and date of birth is the best practice as it increases accuracy and safety in patient identification.