Soc Sec Number

Field Length:  9

Enter the patient's social security number in the field provided. If the patient does not have a social security number, use the formula below to assign a unique temporary number.

NOTE:             The social security number is the main element used in identifying patients, matching information, etc., and must be recorded accurately for every patient entered in the system.

FORMULA: Temporary "social security" numbers are assigned only to patients not possessing a verifiable social security number. Use the initials of the patient's first, middle and last names, followed by digits representing the birth date. (Use zero when the patient's middle initial is unknown.) 

Thus, John Brown, born January 21, 1946, would be issued the following number:

                                  J0B - 01 - 2146

Where month, day or year of birth is not known, enter "99".

Temporary numbers should be checked for duplication within your hospital's cancer registry before the patient is accessioned. If the temporary number works out to be exactly the same as that of a different patient, the registrar should change the middle initial to the number "1". If there are more than two patients with the same temporary number, continue to substitute numbers in the middle initial in sequential order.

[Do NOT automatically enter patient's Medicare claim number. If the Medicare billing number is a Social Security Number followed by a B or D, this indicates that the SSN belongs to the spouse of the patient.]