Avoiding duplicates by careful "Locate/Create"

As you know, if you inadvertently create a duplicate consumer record as you assemble AFC/ GAFC initial determination materials, the screening will be delayed until the records can be merged by an administrator.

There are more than 700,000 consumer records in the SAMS database.  Many prospective AFC or GAFC consumers have already had an interaction with the aging & disabilities network which resulted in a SAMS consumer record.  

This Job Aid describes how to locate a consumer record, where one exists, in order to avoid creating a duplicate. 

Let's say you have logged in to SAMS and want to assemble materials for a new Initial Determination.  Before this point, you have used the MassHealth POSC to look up the consumer to verify eligibility.