Fallkennung

Fallkennung is a term used to describe a unique identifier assigned to a specific case, incident, file, or dossier within an information system. It functions as a reference handle that enables efficient retrieval, communication, and cross-referencing of related documents and activities across an organization. The form of a fallkennung can vary widely and may be numeric, alphanumeric, or a combination of both. There is no universal standard; each institution defines its own coding scheme, often incorporating elements such as year, department code, and a sequential number.

Contexts and usage

Fallkennungen are used in a variety of sectors, including law enforcement, judiciary, public administration, healthcare, insurance, IT service management, and research projects. In German-speaking contexts, the terms fallkennung or fallkennzeichen are sometimes used interchangeably with related concepts such as aktenzeichen (case file number) or vorgangsnummer (process number). The identifier is typically linked to documents, reports, and records for the duration of the case and remains unchanged even as the case status evolves.

Format and examples

Formats vary by organization. Examples might include patterns like 2024-LD-0123, PKG-19-045, or INV-2023-0007. The essential characteristics are uniqueness within the system and consistency across all materials related to the case. In multi-agency contexts, mappings or crosswalks between different fallkennungen may be maintained to enable inter-institutional information exchange.

Privacy and governance

Fallkennungen support data organization while enabling access control, auditability, and privacy protection. Access to case data is typically restricted to authorized personnel, and identifiers are designed to prevent unnecessary disclosure of sensitive information.

See also

Aktenzeichen, Kennung, Case management, Incident numbering.