Patient Identification

we put a band on the patient with their name, medical record number and address on.

We use verbal identifiers confirmed with the bracelet with a barcode. Technically when administering meds we are required to scan the bracelet to bring the patient profile up in the computer (because if you assign yourself to more than one patient on your computer login for the shift you may chart on the wrong patient if you click a patient choice manually... so scanning the bracelet to bring the patient profile up avoids this inadvertent error)... then scan meds... then confirm verbally against the bracelet... then administer....with lab draws patient stickers with barcodes are put on the tubes, but this has to be done after the blood is drawn, not before on an empty tube... stuff like that...

We use wristbands with barcodes, names, MR #'s and DOB as well. I think it is a good system because there's a low possibility that you will mix the patients up because the computer will alert you that you scanned the wrong patient. Even though if the wrong ID band was placed on the patient then you can have all sorts of problems because the phlebotomists, EKG tech and other techs do not have scanners. So because of this you always have to ask the patient their name if they are able to communicate or ask the nurse who's taking care of that patient to verify their identity.

I'm a phlebotomist (& soon to be student nurse!) when Drawing inpatients we MUST check the bracelet and ask the patient IDing information (if they can answer.) I always double check AFTER I draw as well just to be sure! When drawing an outpatient in the lab. I ask them how to spell their last name and thier DOB, and again after I draw them.

For the inpatient we use two identifiers. The wrist band which has name and account number, medical record number on it, against say the MAR in our hand or lab slip. Yes, you can ask the patient what their name is however never say "are you ms so and so" I have had patients some who don't hear well or some other cause who have said Yes I am....lol

Out patient I believe uses Name " what is your name"

date of birth "what is your date of birth"

again what they say is compared to the order/prescription they carry

Thanks to every body for the quick reply!

Baloobaba

I work LTC, we use name bands and have a picture of each resident in the MAR to get a visual match if the person is too confused to tell us thier name and birthday.

wristbands...but we only are required to have them verbally tell us their name when the band is placed. Ideally they are to reiterate their name over and over, but maintaining JC standards allows us to just visually check their arm band.

My 16-year-old daughter was recently in the hospital for 11 days, and on day 7, she told me that only one nurse had checked her ID band prior to giving meds. Not only did she receive meds from her assigned nurse, but other nurses who were working but just happened to have the time to pass meds when her regular nurse was busy. Add to the fact that her ID was not being checked (nor was she asked her name), but she was also moved to different rooms 4 times during that 11 days, and it is a formula for an accident waiting to happen! This was in a children's hospital, and I shudder to think how frequently errors could happen, since this seems to be the standard practice among the nurses there. ID bands are on every patient, but they only work if the are checked!!