RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Accuracy of the patient identifier in a family practice data system JF The Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners JO J R Coll Gen Pract FD British Journal of General Practice SP 242 OP 244 VO 31 IS 225 A1 Russell M. Boyle YR 1981 UL http://bjgp.org/content/31/225/242.abstract AB The accuracy of a general practice data system has been measured and has improved considerably over three years. It is difficult to identify all the factors contributing to this change, but an overall effort to emphasize the importance of recording patient identifiers correctly has been effective. No directly comparable error rates have been reported elsewhere; consequently, relative accuracy cannot be known. Administrators and managers of data systems are urged to determine levels of error and disseminate this information.