Patient Identifier

WE use name, DOB, MR# and/or pt. bands..... at least that is what the policy states. Have to remind staff frequently to do so -- even if they are familiar with the patient.

Had an incident last night where a supervisor called a dying patient's family at 2 AM -- but due to some snafoo -- had not checked ID and called the wrong family. Family tried to convince her that they were not who she wanted to speak to -- sup didn't want to listen.... FINALLY a nurse double checked the ID, the chart etc and showed her the mistake -- the correct family was notified -- and fortunately lived relatively close or they would have never been able to get here before dad died..

"No matter what, no matter who, be sure you identify patients with 2!"

JCAHO is due to visit us soon so I know this one!!! We use name and "PIN" (personal ID number) which is a number on their ID band (not the MR number, that one is separate). Thing is we didn't used to actually place bands on the babies until close to discharge home. Because they grow!!! Some of our infants easily double, triple or quadruple their birth weights before going home. I had to cut off two band and reband those kids this last week because the kids had grown so much the old bands were starting to cut into them.

I'm sure these bands will go away the week after JCAHO leaves. We'll go back to looking at their ID bands taped to their cribs/Isolettes.

What do you use to identify your patients?. JCAHO asks for 2. We use name, DOB or MR.

It is our policy to use 2 identifiers:

ALWAYS the patients name AND

Medical Record Number OR

Date of Birth OR

Social Security Number

NEVER the Room Number

All 4 identifiers are on the patient's "front sheet" of the chart. And all but the SSN are on the armband.

Have heard of some real hair curling incidents when 2 identifiers were not used! ! ! !

TiffyRN

I hear what you're saying with the banding and rebanding in the NICU! We used to be more lax about it... But then one day we had to evacuate a bunch of babies due to a fire (and subsequent fire extinguisher mess) and suddenly had to check that all babies had bands on since all babies were getting moved at once! We're more stringent now. 23 weekers with tiny limbs and sensitive skin are about the only ones that are allowed to be unbanded.