Reduction in Specimen Labeling Errors After Implementation of a Positive Patient Identification System in Phlebotomy

Summary Objective: To report the incidence and severity of medication safety events before and after initiation of barcode scanning for positive patient identification (PPID) in a large teaching hospital. Methods: Retrospective analysis of data from an existing safety reporting system with anonymous and non-punitive self-reporting. Medication safety events were categorized as “near-miss” (unsafe conditions or caught before reaching the patient) or reaching the patient, with requisite additional monitoring or treatment. Baseline and post-PPID implementation data on events per 1,000,000 drug administrations were compared by chi-square with p<0.05 considered significant. Results: An average of 510,541 doses were dispensed each month in 2008. Total self-reported medication errors initially increased from 20 per million doses dispensed pre-barcoding (first quarter 2008) to 38 per million doses dispensed immediately post-intervention (last quarter 2008), but errors reaching the patient decreased from 3.26 per million to 0.8 per million despite the increase in “near-misses”. A number of process issues were identified and improved, including additional training and equipment, instituting ParX scanning when filling Pyxis machines, and lobbying for a manufacturing change in how bar codes were printed on bags of intravenous solutions to reduce scanning failures. Conclusion: Introduction of barcoding of medications and patient wristbands reduced serious medication dispensing errors reaching the patient, but temporarily increased the number of “near-miss” situations reported. Overall patient safety improved with the barcoding and positive patient identification initiative. These results have been sustained during the 18 months following full implementation.

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Clinical Study of Using Biometrics to Identify Patient and Procedure

Frontiers in Oncology ◽

10.3389/fonc.2020.586232 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 ◽

Author(s):

Jason W. Sohn ◽

Haksoo Kim ◽

Samuel B. Park ◽

Soyoung Lee ◽

James I. Monroe ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Identification System ◽

Patient Identification ◽

Oracle Database ◽

Specific Patient ◽

Photo Identification ◽

Human Interactions ◽

Web Camera ◽

Patient Model ◽

Multiple Patients ◽

Time Image

PurposeTo reduce patient and procedure identification errors by human interactions in radiotherapy delivery and surgery, a Biometric Automated Patient and Procedure Identification System (BAPPIS) was developed. BAPPIS is a patient identification and treatment procedure verification system using fingerprints.MethodsThe system was developed using C++, the Microsoft Foundation Class Library, the Oracle database system, and a fingerprint scanner. To register a patient, the BAPPIS system requires three steps: capturing a photograph using a web camera for photo identification, taking at least two fingerprints, and recording other specific patient information including name, date of birth, allergies, etc. To identify a patient, the BAPPIS reads a fingerprint, identifies the patient, verifies with a second fingerprint to confirm when multiple patients have same fingerprint features, and connects to the patient’s record in electronic medical record (EMR) systems. To validate the system, 143 and 21 patients ranging from 36 to 98 years of ages were recruited from radiotherapy and breast surgery, respectively. The registration process for surgery patients includes an additional module, which has a 3D patient model. A surgeon could mark ‘O’ on the model and save a snap shot of patient in the preparation room. In the surgery room, a webcam displayed the patient’s real-time image next to the 3D model. This may prevent a possible surgical mistake.Results1,271 (96.9%) of 1,311 fingerprints were verified by BAPPIS using patients’ 2nd fingerprints from 143 patients as the system designed. A false positive recognition was not reported. The 96.9% completion ratio is because the operator did not verify with another fingerprint after identifying the first fingerprint. The reason may be due to lack of training at the beginning of the study.ConclusionWe successfully demonstrated the use of BAPPIS to correctly identify and recall patient’s record in EMR. BAPPIS may significantly reduce errors by limiting the number of non-automated steps.

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A Patient Identification System for Area Health Records

Australian Medical Record Journal ◽

10.1177/183335838801800405 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 145-151

Author(s):

Anna Coote ◽

Tracy Prior

Keyword(s):

Identification System ◽

Patient Identification ◽

Data Bases ◽

Health Records ◽

Health Region ◽

Privacy Issues ◽

Area Health ◽

Health Boards

The advent of area health boards in NSW created a need for patient identification systems to incorporate information held in several data bases. The concept of a unique health identifier system is outlined, including detail of record location, number issuing, privacy issues and implementation. The Illawarra Health Region experience of an area patient master index and an area record is described. (AMRJ 1988, 18(4), 145–149)

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Improving Quality and Safety through Positive Patient Identification

Healthcare Quarterly ◽

10.12927/hcq.2015.24431 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 18 (3) ◽

pp. 56-60 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Kerry Campbell ◽

Allison Muniak ◽

Sarah Rothwell ◽

Linda Dempster ◽

Jacqueline Per ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Positive Patient ◽

Quality And Safety ◽

Patient Identification

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Improvement in transfusion safety using a new blood unit and patient identification system as part of safe transfusion practice

Transfusion ◽

10.1046/j.1537-2995.1991.31591263193.x ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 31 (5) ◽

pp. 401-403 ◽

Cited By ~ 47

Author(s):

B Wenz ◽

ER Burns

Keyword(s):

Transfusion Practice ◽

Identification System ◽

Patient Identification ◽

Blood Unit

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Cerebrospinal fluid phospho-tau T217 outperforms T181 as a biomarker for the differential diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and PET amyloid-positive patient identification

Alzheimer s Research & Therapy ◽

10.1186/s13195-020-00596-4 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Nicolas R. Barthélemy ◽

Randall J. Bateman ◽

Christophe Hirtz ◽

Philippe Marin ◽

François Becher ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽

Differential Diagnosis ◽

Positive Patient ◽

Patient Identification ◽

Pet Amyloid

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Identification of patients as a safety in providing medical care (practical experience)

10.21045/1811-0185-2021-1-33-39 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 33-39

Author(s):

A. V. Potylitsyn ◽

◽

S. N. Beniova ◽

I. S. Gorelova ◽

P. F. Kiku ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Medical Care ◽

Main Idea ◽

Practical Experience ◽

World Health ◽

Automatic Identification ◽

Identification System ◽

Patient Identification ◽

Patient Health ◽

Patients At Risk ◽

Health Organization

Patient safety is one of the priorities in medical care. The leading place in it is occupied by “correct patient identification”. According to research by experts from the World Health Organization (WHO), “misidentification of a patient is the cause of many errors.” The purpose of this work is to assess the implementation of a patient identification system using bracelets in a multidisciplinary hospital. The main idea of the project is based on the use of personal identifiers, made in the form of a disposable white bracelet worn on the patient’s arm, as well as the use of color-coded bracelets (red, yellow, red-yellow), which allows identifying patients at risk of developing life-threatening conditions: high risk falling of the patient and the presence of an allergological history. The introduction of identification bracelets with patient data and a barcode on them increased the percentage of identification performance increased from 67% to 89%. After the introduction of the system of prevention of falls and color identification by bracelets, the number of falls of patients decreased by more than 4 times. Successful integration of the automatic identification system into the workflow of a multidisciplinary hospital significantly reduces the influence of the human factor on the number of medical errors and related preventable consequences for patient health.

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