# Create a patient

> Creates a patient, or returns the existing one that matches by MRN, then phone, then email. A new patient returns 201; a match returns 200 with matched_by and doesn't change the existing record.

Source: https://www.bloomtext.com/developers/api/reference/create-patient/

`POST /patients`

Creates a patient, or returns the existing one that matches by MRN, then phone, then email. A new patient returns `201`; a match returns `200` with `matched_by` and doesn't change the existing record.

**Credentials:** [API key](https://www.bloomtext.com/developers/api/api-keys/) or an [org admin’s OAuth token](https://www.bloomtext.com/developers/api/oauth/) · **Scope:** `patients.write` · **Idempotent:** With `Idempotency-Key`

### Headers

- `Idempotency-Key` (UUID, required): A UUID you generate for each write. Retrying with the same key returns the original result for 24 hours. Reusing a key with a different method, path, or body returns 409.

### Body parameters

Provide a phone number, an email address, or both.

- `first_name` (string): First name.

- `last_name` (string): Last name.

- `date_of_birth` (date): Date of birth.

- `phone` (string): Mobile number. Any common format; BloomText stores it as E.164.

- `email` (string): Email address.

- `mrn` (string): The patient's ID in your system. Matched first.

### Returns

Returns `200 OK` with the [Patient object](https://www.bloomtext.com/developers/api/reference/patient-object/).

### Errors

Failed requests return `application/problem+json` [problem details](https://www.bloomtext.com/developers/api/errors/). The errors specific to this endpoint:

| Status | Code | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 400 | `invalid_request` | The request is malformed, such as invalid JSON. |
| 401 | `invalid_token` | The API key or access token is missing, expired, or revoked. |
| 403 | `insufficient_scope` | The credential doesn’t have the scope this endpoint needs. |
| 409 | `idempotency_key_reused` | The Idempotency-Key was already used with a different request. |
| 409 | `idempotency_request_in_progress` | A request with this Idempotency-Key is still running. Retry shortly. |
| 422 | `validation_failed` | A field failed validation. See `field_errors`. |
| 429 | `rate_limited` | Too many requests. Retry after `Retry-After` seconds. |

```bash filename="Request"
curl -X POST "https://api.bloomtext.com/v1/patients" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $BLOOMTEXT_API_KEY" \
  -H "Idempotency-Key: $(uuidgen)" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"first_name":"Jane","last_name":"Doe","date_of_birth":"1986-04-12","phone":"(512) 555-0143","mrn":"MRN-20931"}'
```

```js filename="Request"
const response = await fetch('https://api.bloomtext.com/v1/patients', {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    Authorization: `Bearer ${process.env.BLOOMTEXT_API_KEY}`,
    'Idempotency-Key': crypto.randomUUID(),
    'Content-Type': 'application/json',
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({"first_name":"Jane","last_name":"Doe","date_of_birth":"1986-04-12","phone":"(512) 555-0143","mrn":"MRN-20931"}),
})

if (!response.ok) throw new Error(`BloomText API error: ${response.status}`)
const data = await response.json()
```

```python filename="Request"
import os
import uuid

import requests

response = requests.post(
    "https://api.bloomtext.com/v1/patients",
    headers={
        "Authorization": f"Bearer {os.environ['BLOOMTEXT_API_KEY']}",
        "Idempotency-Key": str(uuid.uuid4()),
    },
    json={"first_name":"Jane","last_name":"Doe","date_of_birth":"1986-04-12","phone":"(512) 555-0143","mrn":"MRN-20931"},
)
response.raise_for_status()
data = response.json()
```

```go filename="Request"
package main

import (
	"bytes"
	"fmt"
	"io"
	"net/http"
	"os"

	"github.com/google/uuid"
)

func main() {
	body := bytes.NewBufferString(`{"first_name":"Jane","last_name":"Doe","date_of_birth":"1986-04-12","phone":"(512) 555-0143","mrn":"MRN-20931"}`)
	req, err := http.NewRequest("POST", "https://api.bloomtext.com/v1/patients", body)
	if err != nil {
		panic(err)
	}
	req.Header.Set("Authorization", "Bearer "+os.Getenv("BLOOMTEXT_API_KEY"))
	req.Header.Set("Idempotency-Key", uuid.NewString())
	req.Header.Set("Content-Type", "application/json")

	res, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
	if err != nil {
		panic(err)
	}
	defer res.Body.Close()

	out, _ := io.ReadAll(res.Body)
	fmt.Println(res.Status, string(out))
}
```

```ruby filename="Request"
require "net/http"
require "json"
require "securerandom"

uri = URI("https://api.bloomtext.com/v1/patients")
request = Net::HTTP::Post.new(uri)
request["Authorization"] = "Bearer #{ENV.fetch("BLOOMTEXT_API_KEY")}"
request["Idempotency-Key"] = SecureRandom.uuid
request["Content-Type"] = "application/json"
request.body = { first_name: "Jane", last_name: "Doe", date_of_birth: "1986-04-12", phone: "(512) 555-0143", mrn: "MRN-20931" }.to_json

response = Net::HTTP.start(uri.hostname, uri.port, use_ssl: true) do |http|
  http.request(request)
end
data = JSON.parse(response.body)
```

```json filename="Response · 200 OK"
{
  "id": "5a1c9e2b-7d44-4f1a-9c3e-2b8d6f0a1e77",
  "first_name": "Jane",
  "last_name": "Doe",
  "date_of_birth": "1986-04-12",
  "phone": "+15125550143",
  "email": "jane.doe@example.com",
  "mrn": "MRN-20931",
  "sms_opted_out": false,
  "conversation_count": 2,
  "created_at": "2026-02-03T17:22:10Z",
  "matched_by": null
}
```