Query Provider - EPRMP.02

Search Requirements

You can search the Provider and Location Registry when you have a business or clinical need to do so by using one of the two methods available.

1. You can search by provider attributes by entering each of the following:
   • Provider role type (optional)
   • Surname
   • First name
   • City (optional)
   • Language (optional); and
   • Expertise (optional)
2. You can search by the provider's identifier by entering:
   • the provider identifier and corresponding college identifier type; or
   • the Ministry Practitioner ID (e.g., 1234) and type (MPID).

Note: The Provider and Location Registry uses wide search parameters to ensure all possible results are returned. If you search by attributes (e.g., role type, name and city) rather than an identifier (college ID or practitioner ID), you could receive up to 20 responses.

Wild Card Searches

To assist in provider searches, an asterisk (*) can be used as a wild card to substitute for a string of characters at the end of the first name and surname fields.

There are a few rules that apply when using the wild card:

• It can be used only once in each of the surname and first name fields.
• There must be at least one character entered before the wild card character.
• It must be used at the end of the field. There must be no characters entered after the wild card (i.e., it cannot be in the beginning or middle of a string of characters).

General Search Information

It is important to know when searching the Provider Location Registry:

• Searching is not case-sensitive (you can use upper or lower case).
• The registry stores current and historical information (e.g., prior addresses and names). If historical information is used to search the registry, the current information will be returned if the search in history is used.
• If the provider has a Confidentiality Flag set in the registry, the message "this record is confidential" will be displayed.

Selecting the Correct Provider

When selecting the provider, you need to be sure you select the right one. When you receive the results, they will be sorted by Surname and then by First Name, but if you see similar records, you will have to open each one and compare the detailed information (e.g., address or telephone number) to ensure you select the correct record.

If no candidates are returned or there are too many results, you have to refine your search using additional or corrected search criteria. A typographical error can cause no candidates to be returned.