Patient Search Topics

About Search Results

Following a patient- or encounter-level search, results are displayed differently based on whether the system finds an exact match for your search criteria in the Horizon Patient Folder database. Other scenarios include finding multiple matches or finding no results. These results are described in this topic.

Click one of these options for information on the search results the system can display:

• Exact-match search results
• Multiple-match search results
• Searches with no results

Exact-match search results

You can have an exact match for a patient or an encounter.

• Patient match: The Patient Search module returns an exact patient match when you enter, for example, the correct first and last name, or an exact SSN, MRN, or GPI, and the patient is included in the Horizon Patient Folder database.

When only one patient is located that matches your search criteria, patient information as well as all encounters for that patient are displayed in the Search Results grid.

• Encounter match: The Patient Search module returns an exact encounter match when you enter an exact encounter number that is included in the Horizon Patient Folder database.

When an exact match is located for your search criteria, the Search Results grid is expanded to display encounter data.

Multiple-match search results

The Patient Search module may return a list of results when it cannot find an exact match for your search criteria. This can occur if you enter partial data (at lease three characters) or if you search on a common last name.

Information order of the display for the following types of searches is:

• Patient search: Patient names are listed in ascending alphabetic order. For example, A-Z. The up arrow next to Patient Name allows you to reverse this sort order. For EMPI-enabled enterprises, the order is by EPN, then name.
• Encounter search: Encounter numbers are listed in descending numeric order by admission date. For example, 10-1. This places the most recent at the top of the list. The up arrow next to Encounter number or Admission (date) allows you to reverse this sort order.

Click on the column heading of any column to sort using that criteria. For example, you can group all males and females together by clicking on the Sex column heading.

See Locating a patient or encounter from the Search Results list.

Searches with no results

You may perform a search with complete or partial data and get the message, No patients were found for your search criteria. This can occur because:

• The patient or encounter is not included in the Horizon Patient Folder database.
• Your permissions to access records does not include the object of your search. See About secured records

Related topics

Patient Search Window