In order to prevent unnecessary storage of search results and other patient related information, there are automated processes in place to automatically clean up patients that are not in use.
After a patient has not been viewed in any way (patient or search results), the patient will be moved to the "Inactive" state in Search & Match. You can see how much time is left until a patient is moved to the "Inactive" (STP) state by going to the patient list.
Simply clicking on the patient or its search result will reset the timer and will provide you with another 42 days until the patient is automatically moved to the "Inactive" state.
A patient that has been in the "Inactive" (STP) state for more than 6 months is anonymised and cannot be recovered any more.
Below are two diagrams that further explain the life cycle of patients in Search & Match with different levels of details
Simplified logic of patient life cycle
@startuml
start
:Search & Match web site; :Create patient;
:Patient or its search results not viewed for 42 days;
:Patient automatically set to STP state\n\
All search results removed;
:no change for > 6 months;
:Patient anonymised\n\
Patient no longer accessible or recoverable;
@enduml |
Detailed diagram of patient life cycle logic
@startuml
start
:API/web front end; note right: Patient registry or transplant centre
:Create patient;
:Countdown set to 42 days;
repeat
repeat
note left: Patient state stays the same. Counter set back to 42 days
backward:Countdown (re)set to 42 days;
repeat while (Patient update or\nRetrieve patient or\nRetrieve search results for patient) is (Yes) not (No)
:No activity on patient;
:Countdown hits 0;
:Patient automatically set to STP state\n\
All search results removed;
:Countdown set to 6 months;
backward:Countdown (re)set to 42 days;
repeat while (Patient set back to ACT or SUS state via API call or web front end) is (Yes) not (No)
:Countdown hits 0;
:Patient anonymised\n\
Patient no longer accessible or recoverable;
@enduml |