Which of the following is NOT an acceptable patient identifier?

The choice of room number as not being an acceptable patient identifier is based on issues of privacy and specificity. While room numbers are often used in healthcare settings for convenience and logistical purposes, they can easily lead to confusion. Room numbers do not uniquely identify a patient; multiple patients may share the same room in different settings, or a patient might change rooms during their stay.

In contrast, other identifiers like the patient's name, social security number, and medical record number are unique to each individual and play a crucial role in ensuring proper identification and safeguarding patient information. They help prevent errors in treatment or medication administration by ensuring that healthcare personnel are always referencing the correct patient records.

Thus, while it might seem practical to use room numbers in certain situations, they do not provide the same level of accuracy and security as other more definitive patient identifiers.