Why not just put "white" or "black", depending on the preference of the receptionist, on everyone? Who is going to audit this?
Ahhh...it's just not so easy. I personally have been labeled everything from Asian to Swedish to East Indian to Puerto Rican (all incorrectly). Of course, there is no one right answer and I personally detest being told to "check one".
The danger in this is that these labels stick, correctly or incorrectly. So if someone labeled me as Swedish, incorrectly, would you as the provider be looking for sickle cell? Likely not...and that is the problem...at least it has been historically (and personally).
If we are going to have to collect the data, at least ask the patients their preference and note it. Just don't assign one.
Barbara
a multi-box checker
