# Why do doctor's offices etc. ask for your birthdate rather than your name? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 5, 2019, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-doctors-offices-etc-ask-for-your-birthdate-rather-than-your-name/841311 "2019-10-05T12:06:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2019, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-doctors-offices-etc-ask-for-your-birthdate-rather-than-your-name/841311/21 "2019-10-06T00:14:40Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > The receptionist in my dental office doesn’t have to ask for my name. ☹ Same here for most of my dentists. They KNOW me, all too well. :eek: And even some WalMart pharmacy clerks merely glance at me and start searching for my meds. New pharmacists, and my medical network, want 1) name and 2) DOB. The medics may want 3) phone number too, but it’s a big network so I’m not surprised at duplicate identities. I grew up across the street from my childhood dentist’s home. No hiding, no escape! My mother the hospital nurse took me to doctors she worked with. No hiding, no escape! Which is scarier: having to ID yourself for medical-dental-pharma stuff, or NOT having to? My social life for the last few years has mostly been in medical offices. That gets old. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2019, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-doctors-offices-etc-ask-for-your-birthdate-rather-than-your-name/841311/22 "2019-10-06T00:30:18Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > The thing is, every doctor/pharmacy that I ever went to asked for your DOB _after_ they’ve looked up your name. They are clearly using your name to pull up the record, and using the DOB to confirm it’s the right person. At the doctors and dentists offices I’ve dealt with here (Chicago) they typically do date of birth first, then name for confirmation. I literally just dealt with this twice in the past week, and both times, date of birth was asked first at two different offices. It’s pretty much become standard. It hasn’t always been the case, but in at least the last half decade to decade, it’s what I expect. It’s nice not having to spell my last name every time I go into the office. ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blue_blistering_barnacle/32/3386_2.png) [@Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Blistering_Barnacle)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2019, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-doctors-offices-etc-ask-for-your-birthdate-rather-than-your-name/841311/23 "2019-10-06T03:34:03Z")
I often communicate medical info to Dr’s offices. They usually ask for birthdate for the lookup/ confirmation. I myself prefer medical record number. I can’t tell you how many times people have given me patient names, often with spelling, and I run a search only to come up goose eggs. When things finally get figured out, the name has been misspelled or simply misremembered. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2019, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-doctors-offices-etc-ask-for-your-birthdate-rather-than-your-name/841311/24 "2019-10-06T04:38:38Z")
When I go to see the doctor at the HMO, I give my name and the doctor I’m to see, they then ask for my DOB. I don’t know what they’d do if I just asked to see the doctor and didn’t give my name. When being called in from the waiting room, I’m called by first name. I recall once sitting in a waiting room with a colleague, not next to him just in the same waiting room. They came out and called for Charles. No one responded. I happened to be next to the nurse calling and I told her if you mean Charles \_\_\_\_, he goes by ‘Chick’. So first names can I guess get confusing. I don’t really know what they do at the dentist. She and the receptionist both know me well by sight so I just say “I’m here.” ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2019, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-doctors-offices-etc-ask-for-your-birthdate-rather-than-your-name/841311/25 "2019-10-06T08:07:55Z")
Interesting question and I’m glad to see the answers. Here when I call the doctor’s office I identify myself on the phone and explain that I want to make an appointment, then they request my DOB. And once I’m in the waiting room they will call me Frau Lastname. Never first name. They might use first names with children, but not with adults. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2019, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-doctors-offices-etc-ask-for-your-birthdate-rather-than-your-name/841311/26 "2019-10-06T10:13:24Z")
When I go to see my GP, there is a touch screen in the reception area, where, once activated, I can choose my DOB (no need to type - three screens give day, month and year). The next screen shows names; usually just mine, but rarely, there is another one to choose from. The next screen shows the name of the doctor or other professional, with whom I have an appointment, what time it is and a message about any delays. I can sit and read an ancient magazine, or watch the kiddies playing with the toys until my name comes up on a screen and a disembodied voice calls me in, using both first and last names. In ye olden days, I had to go to reception and queue with all the people wanting prescriptions, appointments, or just having a moan about something. Even prescriptions are automated; they get sent directly to the local pharmacy. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2019, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-doctors-offices-etc-ask-for-your-birthdate-rather-than-your-name/841311/27 "2019-10-06T11:23:43Z")
Name Search: Smith, Chris Result: Smith, Chris Smith, Christian Smith, Christine Smith, Christopher “Is that short for something?” “Yes, for Kristin. With a K” vs. Date Search: 04/04/1984 Result: Jones, Jessica Smith, Kristin White, Peter Personally, I’d much rather be trying the match the name in the date search than match the date in the name search. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2019, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-doctors-offices-etc-ask-for-your-birthdate-rather-than-your-name/841311/28 "2019-10-06T11:45:58Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > When I go to see my GP, there is a touch screen in the reception area, where, once activated, I can choose my DOB (no need to type - three screens give day, month and year). The next screen shows names; usually just mine, but rarely, there is another one to choose from. The next screen shows the name of the doctor or other professional, with whom I have an appointment, what time it is and a message about any delays. I can sit and read an ancient magazine, or watch the kiddies playing with the toys until my name comes up on a screen and a disembodied voice calls me in, using both first and last names. > > In ye olden days, I had to go to reception and queue with all the people wanting prescriptions, appointments, or just having a moan about something. Even prescriptions are automated; they get sent directly to the local pharmacy. I have the same systems here in London (except my GP practice doesn’t read out my name, just beeps. I once had to stand guard outside the loo for a lady, to tell her when her message came up and which room to go to). And when I pick up my prescriptions at the pharmacy and give my name, their double-check is the first line of my address. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2019, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-doctors-offices-etc-ask-for-your-birthdate-rather-than-your-name/841311/29 "2019-10-07T19:40:50Z")
> [@SuntanLotion](#): > > Ask John Smith. Actually, what if there were two John Smiths with the same birthdate? What are the odds? Non-zero. When I was in HS one of the teachers told of the time they had two students with the exact same first middle and last names _and born on the same day_. It was a headache and they ordered them by the name of the street they lived on. Incidentally, they were also first cousins. What were their fathers thinking? ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2019, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-doctors-offices-etc-ask-for-your-birthdate-rather-than-your-name/841311/30 "2019-10-07T20:29:35Z")
Phone number? That seems rather odd…and a bit unworkable. I have five phone numbers that I might use (work, mobile, home landline, and two VOIP numbers that basically just go to VM). It’s hard enough trying to figure out which phone number will get me to my shopper loyalty program. (“No? OK, try THIS one…”) ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2019, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-doctors-offices-etc-ask-for-your-birthdate-rather-than-your-name/841311/31 "2019-10-07T20:30:57Z")
Generally speaking, name and birthdate is enough to narrow it down to one person- you may have a lot of John Smiths in your patient database, but probably very few, or none with the same birthday. It’s not perfect, but it’s usually close enough. Actually, distinguishing unique patients is something of a challenge in healthcare IT, if you don’t have something like a SSN to conclusively identify someone. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2019, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-doctors-offices-etc-ask-for-your-birthdate-rather-than-your-name/841311/32 "2019-10-07T20:47:24Z")
I have a name that is both frequently misspelled and often mangled in form, so looking me up can be difficult figuring out what variation they have. Therefore I get internally giddy when they ask DOB first, we don’t have to spend a bunch of time figuring it out. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2019, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-doctors-offices-etc-ask-for-your-birthdate-rather-than-your-name/841311/33 "2019-10-07T21:50:43Z")
> [@Cazzle](#): > > Name Search: Smith, Chris > Result: > Smith, Chris > Smith, Christian > Smith, Christine > Smith, Christopher > “Is that short for something?” > “Yes, for Kristin. With a K” > > vs. > > Date Search: 04/04/1984 > Result: > Jones, Jessica > Smith, Kristin > White, Peter > > Personally, I’d much rather be trying the match the name in the date search than match the date in the name search. Try “Heinrich von Reuss” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![brossa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brossa/32/3040_2.png) [@brossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brossa)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2019, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-doctors-offices-etc-ask-for-your-birthdate-rather-than-your-name/841311/34 "2019-10-08T01:58:39Z")
At my last clinic visit, the nurse asked to take a picture of me to add to my chart. “For fraud prevention?” I asked. “That’s what we’re telling people” she said brightly. It made me chuckle. I declined. ---
**Author:** ![Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cabin_fever_1/32/2908_2.png) [@Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabin_Fever_1)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2019, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-doctors-offices-etc-ask-for-your-birthdate-rather-than-your-name/841311/35 "2019-10-08T05:35:55Z")
> [@campp](#): > > Faster and more reliable way to pull up records. Names are fluid, abbreviated, mis-heard, mis-pronounced, etc. A birth date is a given fact that does not change. Asking for your name is confirmation and a security issue. ^^^This. Match birthdate with name. You can blame us “computer engineers” for this. You will get a thousand different answers. Your privacy matters, though not as much as you thought, at least here in good old USA. > **[Your Rights Under HIPAA](https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-individuals/guidance-materials-for-consumers/index.html)** > > Health Information Privacy Brochures For Consumers ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2019, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-doctors-offices-etc-ask-for-your-birthdate-rather-than-your-name/841311/36 "2019-10-08T12:39:47Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > I expect when they enter a DOB a list of names with that DOB come up. Then they just click on the last name you gave them. Sometimes the first name. This looks to me like what they are doing. Often it appears they are making a selection onscreen and never type my name in. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-doctors-offices-etc-ask-for-your-birthdate-rather-than-your-name/841311.md?page=1)