Resolving the issue where a patient is incorrectly assigned another patient's medical record number is a part of what key process?

Overlay Resolution is the correct answer because it specifically refers to the process of identifying and correcting instances where a patient's medical record is incorrectly combined or associated with another patient's record. This can occur due to similar names, typographical errors, or other factors that lead to confusion between distinct patient records. The primary goal of overlay resolution is to ensure that each patient's medical history and data are accurate and tied to the correct individual, thereby safeguarding patient safety and ensuring proper care.

In healthcare, the integrity of patient identification is crucial. When overlays occur, it can compromise the quality of care, as healthcare providers may make decisions based on inaccurate or incomplete information. Therefore, overlay resolution is an essential process in maintaining the accuracy of health records.

The other processes mentioned, such as data entry, merging records, and data validation, serve different purposes and do not specifically address the problem of misassigned medical record numbers. Data entry focuses on the accurate input of data into systems, merging records involves combining records of the same patient, and data validation relates to the process of ensuring that data is correct and useful. While all these processes are important in managing health data, they do not directly target the resolution of overlay issues like overlay resolution does.