DUR anonymization is the removal of all 18 HIPAA Safe Harbor IDs (45 CFR §164.514(b)) from a utilization dataset. anonym.plus does this locally. The use patterns and prescriber-level data stay; no row names the patient.
When this applies
A utilization dataset ties fill patterns to named patients. For a use review or a quality study, you strip the IDs but keep the patterns and the timing.
How anonym.plus handles it
- Point anonym.plus at the dataset on your device.
- It scans ID columns and any free-text fields.
- Patient names, MRNs, and dates get flagged.
- Confirm the flags; the medicines stay as non-IDs.
- Swap IDs with a steady map to keep cohort links.
- Save the clean data; the source stays on your machine.
What you need to provide
- The dataset as CSV, JSON, or a bundle of files.
- A column map for patient and MRN fields.
- Replace with a steady map to keep cohort joins.
PHI entity types detected
| Category | anonym.plus entity type | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Names | PERSON | patient_name → [PATIENT_n] |
| Record IDs | MEDICAL_RECORD_NUMBER | mrn field → [MRN_n] |
| Dates | DATE_TIME | fill dates → shifted [DATE] |
| Location | LOCATION | zip field → [ZIP] |
| Age | AGE | age 92 → [AGE_BAND] |
| Identifiers | NATIONAL_ID | plan no. → [ID] |
Compliance achieved
- Strips all 18 ID classes for HIPAA Safe Harbor (45 CFR §164.514(b)).
- Keeps the use patterns, which are not patient IDs.
- Offline work keeps the dataset inside your team.
Anonymize utilization datasets offline — see plans & start free →
Limitations & cautions
Ages over 89 must be banded under Safe Harbor, and a full zip cut to three digits. The medicines and patterns stay. Check that date-shift keeps the gaps your study needs before a full run.
Frequently asked questions
Can cohorts stay linkable after the swap?
Yes. A steady label map swaps each ID the same way, so a patient's rows still group while no real identity is left.
How are very old ages handled?
Safe Harbor caps age at 89, so any age above that is banded. The tool flags it as AGE for you to band.
Are the medicines kept?
Yes. Drug names are not identifiers, so they stay and the use patterns remain readable.