title: Growing trend of identity theft poses safety and billing loss threats.
abstract: Identity theft is more than just a legal issue. Patients with improper identification are at risk for receiving potentially harmful treatment. Have registration department require photo identification from all patients. Ask additional questions, such as the patient's date of birth. Ask staff members to be the "eyes and ears" of registration and security, and ask them to report anything suspicious.
mesh_terms: D003219:Confidentiality; D004469:Economics, Hospital; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D010355:Patient Identification Systems / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017751:Safety Management; D012637:Security Measures; D013800:Theft / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000639:trends; D014481:United States