Patient Safety Starts with Positive Patient Identification

Smart Meets Safe With Patient ID Printing

The 2004 HealthGrades Patient Safety in American Hospitals Study states preventable medical errors are responsible for as many as 195,000 deaths in the U.S. annually. Recognizing the role positive patient identification plays in preventing medical errors, The Joint Commission — an independent, notfor-profit organization which accredits and certifies U.S. health care organizations and programs — has included “improve the accuracy of patient identification” as one of its top National Patient Safety Goals annually since 2003.

The first step in every hospital process begins with positive patient identification. From patient admission and throughout the hospital continuum of care, matching the correct patient to the right medication, specimen, test, and procedure is critical for improving patient safety. When the patient ID process is not automated, mistakes occur that may severely compromise a patient’s safety or health and prevent them from receiving the correct treatment.

Despite this risk, many hospitals and healthcare facilities still use handwritten patient ID systems which can lead to manual data errors or misinterpretation due to unclear penmanship.

Using bar code wristbands for patient ID helps prevent human errors, improves patient safety, and enhances workflow. It also complies with regulatory requirements enacted by the Joint Commission, AHA, and HIPAA. In addition, use of bar coding supports healthcare reforms such as Meaningful Use requirements for Electronic Tracking of Medication (eMAR), mandated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Patient ID printing uses smart technology to help protect patients through positive identification.

The printer’s wireless, compact, and transportable design provides bar coding at the point of care to improve patient safety. This helps reduce errors by allowing caregivers to print bar code wristbands and labels on demand at bedside, admissions — and anywhere in between.

Advanced printers can automatically detect media and self-calibrate for an easy “drop and print” experience for caregivers, as well as produce accurate bar code scan rates for ensured patient safety. They also come with a comprehensive range of patient ID wristbands for the entire patient population — from newborns to adults.