A method, computing device and computer program product are provided to define a level of assurance in one or more links between patient records that relate to the same person based upon external information. In the context of a method, one or more links are identified between a patient record associated with a person and pre-existing patient records. Each pre-existing patient record has a plurality of demographic attributes associated with a patient. The method identifies one or more links based upon an analysis of the demographic attributes of the person and the respective patients associated with the pre-existing patient records. The method receives external information regarding a relationship between the person and the respective patients associated with the pre-existing patient records or regarding confirmation of an identity of the person. The method also defines a level of assurance in the respective one or more links based upon the external information.