What is included in patient demographics?

Patient demographics encompass information that is used to identify patients and include crucial details about their background. The correct choice highlights elements such as public information, age, Social Security Number (SSN), and address. These components are vital for establishing a patient’s identity and ensuring proper management of their healthcare records.

Demographics typically include identifiers and personal details that help healthcare providers communicate effectively with patients and ensure accurate record-keeping. Age helps in determining suitable medical treatments and preventive measures, while the SSN is often necessary for billing purposes and insurance workflows. An address is essential for contact and follow-up appointments.

Other options such as medical history, insurance details, and emergency contact information are important but do not fall under the definition of demographics specifically. Medical history pertains to past illnesses and treatments, insurance details relate to coverage and billing, and emergency contacts involve individuals designated to be reached in urgent situations. While these are critical for patient care, they constitute different aspects of patient information management beyond demographic data.