What does master patient index mean?

A master patient index (MPI) is a registry that assigns one persistent identifier per person and links records across systems in a health organisation so clinicians do not act on duplicate or fragmented charts.

How is an MPI different from patient matching on Meddle?

An MPI solves identity and duplicate records inside or across facilities. Meddle does not replace an MPI. It helps patients find suitable practitioners and book care after identity is already established in your clinical systems.

Do IHIs replace the need for an MPI?

Individual Healthcare Identifiers strengthen national identity, but local MPI or enterprise matching is still needed to link records inside your organisation. Capture IHIs at registration where possible and maintain MPI governance.

What should clinics verify before changing identity systems?

Confirm data residency, audit logging, possible-match review workflows, and clinical ownership for overlays. Align with Australian standards your organisation already uses for safety and quality.

Master patient index (MPI): meaning, matching, and Meddle

25 August 2026

A master patient index (MPI) is a registry that assigns one persistent identifier to each person and links every record about them across systems in a health organisation. In plain terms, it answers: “Is this the same patient we have seen before?” without creating duplicate charts for minor name or address differences.

An MPI is about identity and record linkage inside (or across) facilities. Patient matching on a platform like Meddle is a different problem: helping a person find a suitable practitioner and book care once their identity is already known to the systems you control. Meddle does not replace an MPI, an enterprise master person index, or your PMS record of care.

How MPI matching works

Common approaches include deterministic rules on exact identifiers, probabilistic scoring across name, date of birth, and address, and human review of “possible match” queues. Poor registration data at intake undermines every method.

IHIs, governance, and Australian context

Individual Healthcare Identifiers strengthen national identity, but local MPI governance still matters for duplicates and overlays. Assign clinical and privacy owners, monitor duplicate rates, and pilot threshold changes before automating merges.

Where Meddle sits in the stack

Referral platforms and booking tools assume the patient is already uniquely identified in your PMS or hospital PAS. Meddle focuses on describing needs, matching to practitioners, and booking. If your MPI project uncovered referral delays rather than duplicate records, pair identity work with clinic coordination features and referral partnerships.

FAQ

Is an MPI the same as an EMPI?

An enterprise master person index spans a network of sites; a traditional MPI may serve one facility. Vendors use terms interchangeably, so read scope carefully.

Does Meddle store the master identifier?

Confirm data flows during onboarding. Treat your PMS or PAS MPI as the authoritative identity layer unless your architecture states otherwise.