Named Entity Recognition Grammars Package 26.3
Named Entity Recognition Grammars User Guide

# PHI User Grammar Extensions

In some cases, the PHI grammar files provide entities for values that are very broad, to allow you to find values that do not have very well-defined formats. To reduce the number of false positives in these cases, only the context form of the entity is available by default (that is, with a suitable landmark).

You can use a user extension to expand the entity to include more specific formats, which enables the `nocontext` entity.

## Medical Record Numbers

Medical Record Numbers (MRN) are provider-specific, and have a large number of possible formats. Therefore, the provided MRN entities in the `healthplan.ecr` grammar are generic, and matches a string of 7-15 alphanumeric characters, with optional - and / separators.

Because the MRN pattern is so broad, it can match a lot of values that are not actually MRNs. To reduce the number of false positives, only the context form of the entity is available by default (that is, with a suitable landmark).

If you have a specific set of MRN values with well-defined patterns that you want to match, you can use the `healthplan_user.xml` extension grammar. This XML file allows you to expand the MRN grammar with more specific patterns, and compile them into a grammar. In this case, the original `context` entity is available, with your additional entities, and it also enables the `nocontext` entity.

For details of how to expand and compile the user XML grammar, refer to the Named Entity Recognition User and Programming Guide.

## Generic License Numbers

The generic entities in the `license.ecr` grammar attempt to match a variety of different license numbers. The `phi/license/generic` entity matches a string of 5-20 alphanumeric characters (which must include at least one number), with optional - and / separators.

If you have a specific set of license values with well-defined patterns that you want to match, you can use the `license_user.xml` extension grammar. This XML file allows you to expand the grammar with more specific patterns, and compile them into a grammar. In this case, the original `context` entity is available, with your additional entities, and it also enables the `nocontext` entity.

For details of how to expand and compile the user XML grammar, refer to the Named Entity Recognition User and Programming Guide.

## Generic Certificate Numbers

The generic entities in the `certificate.ecr` grammar attempt to match a variety of different license numbers. The `phi/certificate/generic` entity matches a string of 5-20 alphanumeric characters (which must include at least one number), with optional - and / separators.

If you have a specific set of certificate values with well-defined patterns that you want to match, you can use the `certificate_user.xml` extension grammar. This XML file allows you to expand the grammar with more specific patterns, and compile them into a grammar. In this case, the original `context` entity is available, with your additional entities, and it also enables the `nocontext` entity.

For details of how to expand and compile the user XML grammar, refer to the Named Entity Recognition User and Programming Guide.

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Version 26.3 | Last updated July 2026

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Product: Named Entity Recognition Grammars Package 26.3

Topic Title: PHI User Grammar Extensions