A duplicate match appeared while adding a patient — what now?
Last updated: 2026-05-26
As you type a phone or email, a yellow card may appear saying "Looks like this patient already exists". You have three choices: This is the same person (open the existing record), Link as family member (create a household dependent), or Create anyway (only if you’re sure it’s genuinely a different person sharing a number).
When the card appears
- You typed a mobile number that already exists on a patient.
- You saved the form and the server detected a matching email.
Your three choices
| Choice | When to use it |
|---|---|
| This is the same person | The patient is genuinely returning — opens the existing record instead of creating a duplicate. |
| Link as family member | A new family member shares a contact number — creates a household dependent (see "Linking family members"). |
| Create anyway | You are sure it is a different person who happens to share the number (rare — e.g. two people on a shared phone). |
What the card shows
The match card shows the existing patient’s name and masked phone/email (e.g. +91 98••• ••210) so you can confirm it’s the right person before choosing.
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