def verify_patient_id(patient_id):
    """
    This function is meant to check if the patient id is the right
    format

    This function first checks to see if the patient id is an integer.
    If it is an integer than that number is returned without
    manipulation. If the patient_id is a string then this function checks
    to see if it is a numeric string. If it is then the function converts
    the patient id into an integer and returns it. If the patient id is
    the wrong format, then this function returns false.
    :param patient_id: a number identifying a patient
    :return: either an integer patient id or False
    """
    if type(patient_id) == int:
        return patient_id
    if type(patient_id) == str:
        if patient_id.isdigit():
            return int(patient_id)
    return False