The problem was to determine an effective method of assigning and controlling patient identification numbers by the Bexar County Hospital District, San Antonio, Texas. For the study, research of pertinent literature was undertaken, observations of personnel engaged in the process were made, interviews were conducted into operations of such a system, and analysis and interpretation of findings relating to hospital procedures manuals, policy guides and forms utilized in such a system were done so that recommendations could be made. It was concluded that by improving the current system, the screening process could be enhanced, insuring effective identification of patients. This improvement would result in prompt retrieval of medical information on patients from the patient index card file, in coordination of patient information between personnel working in patient in-take areas and medical records personnel, and in issuance and control over patient identification numbers by the medical records department. It was further concluded that by establishing clearly defined lines of authority and responsibility within the medical records department, its functions could assist in the screening process. Seven recommendations were made to implement the conclusions: the use of social security numbers for patient i.d. to insure prompt retrieval by filing a family’s medical records together; development of a notification form informing departments of errors made in the patient identification process; revision of hospital by-laws, rules and regulations governing the issuance and control of patient i.d. numbers by the medical records department; use of prefixes to indicate the geographical area of a patient’s residence as another means of identification; development of adequate job analysis criteria for medical records personnel to insure proper job performance; and the establishment of a liaison advisory committee to detect and solve problems dealing with patient identification. The problem was to determine an effective method of assigning and controlling patient identification numbers by the Bexar County Hospital District, San Antonio, Texas. For the study, research of pertinent literature was undertaken, observations of personnel engaged in the process were made, interviews were conducted into operations of such a system, and analysis and interpretation of findings relating to hospital procedures manuals, policy guides and forms utilized in such a system were done so that recommendations could be made. It was concluded that by improving the current system, the screening process could be enhanced, insuring effective identification of patients. This improvement would result in prompt retrieval of medical information on patients from the patient index card file, in coordination of patient information between personnel working in patient in-take areas and medical records personnel, and in issuance and control over patient identification numbers by the medical records department. It was further concluded that by establishing clearly defined lines of authority and responsibility within the medical records department, its functions could assist in the screening process. Seven recommendations were made to implement the conclusions: the use of social security numbers for patient i.d. to insure prompt retrieval by filing a family’s medical records together; development of a notification form informing departments of errors made in the patient identification process; revision of hospital by-laws, rules and regulations governing the issuance and control of patient i.d. numbers by the medical records department; use of prefixes to indicate the geographical area of a patient’s residence as another means of identification; development of adequate job analysis criteria for medical records personnel to insure proper job performance; and the establishment of a liaison advisory committee to detect and solve problems dealing with patient identification.