Individual name cluster

Identifying and definitional attributes

• Health, Standard 05/10/2016

The Individual name cluster includes data elements that in combination define an individual's name. An individual’s name consists of the following components: name title, given name, family name, family name prefix and name suffix.

Collection and usage attributes

Each name component has an associated sequence number data element that describes the sequence by which each name component should be combined. It should be noted that a person can have multiples of a single name component.

It is acknowledged that some people use more than one name (for example formal name, birth name, married/maiden name and tribal name), depending on the circumstances. In healthcare, name is used not only as an identifier but also as a major means of communication and trust, and name is also a matter of privacy. For this reason, it shall be recognised that people use different names for different purposes.

Care should be taken when recording a change of name for a minor. Ideally, the name recorded for the minor should be known to both parents so that the minor’s records can be retrieved and continuity of care can be maintained, regardless of which parent accompanies the minor to the agency or establishment.

A person should generally be registered using their preferred name as it is more likely to be used in common usage and on subsequent visits to an agency or establishment. The person's preferred name may in fact be their legal name.

This data element cluster represents one full name for an individual. A full name must include at least one family name, and can include name titles, given names, family name prefixes and name suffixes.

There can be more than one full name recorded for an individual; in that situation, the data element cluster should be recorded for each full name. At least one name must be recorded, and the preferred name should always be sought.

Source and reference attributes

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Standards Australia 2014. AS 4846:2014 Person and provider identification in healthcare. Sydney: Standards Australia.

Relational attributes