Formatting CSV files correctly is vital for importing demographic data into the EMIS PCN Hub efficiently. To ensure a successful import, adhere to the following guidelines:
CSV Delimiter
Always use a pipe (|) as the delimiter in your CSV files. This is crucial to avoid issues with parsing the data correctly.
Text Qualification
Avoid enclosing text fields in quotation marks. For example, the Unique Patient Identifier (UPI) should be displayed as 12345 and not “12345”.
Data Validation and Preparation
Before submitting your CSV, check the file using Notepad or Notepad++. This helps prevent Excel-related errors, such as the removal of leading zeros from numbers. Avoid adding spaces to fields like the NHS number or postcodes.
“Employing proper CSV formatting saves time and reduces administrative workload, facilitating efficient data migration into the PCN Hub.”
File Structure and Naming
Name your file Demographics.csv and ensure the header line contains all necessary fields, such as:
UPI|NHSNumber|Title|Forename|CallingName|Surname|DateOfBirth|Sex|…|Postcode
Ensure that all fields adhere to the required formats, such as date fields formatted as DD/MM/YYYY or numeric fields without spaces.
Submission
Utilise the EMIS Migration Team’s secure SFTP server to send CSV files. Confirm the upload via email by providing a row count for validation against the submitted data.
This meticulous preparation ensures the demographic data is imported accurately, minimising errors and delays in patient tracing and registration processes.
