Incorporating the Last Four Digits of Social Security Numbers Substantially Improves Linking Patient Data from De-identified Hospital Claims Databases.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Assess algorithms for linking patients across de-identified databases without compromising confidentiality.

Data sources/study setting

Hospital discharges from 11 Mayo Clinic hospitals during January 2008-September 2012 (assessment and validation data). Minnesota death certificates and hospital discharges from 2009 to 2012 for entire state (application data).

Study design

Cross-sectional assessment of sensitivity and positive predictive value (PPV) for four linking algorithms tested by identifying readmissions and posthospital mortality on the assessment data with application to statewide data.

Data collection/extraction methods

De-identified claims included patient gender, birthdate, and zip code. Assessment records were matched with institutional so

SUBMITTER: Naessens JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4545335 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature