{"id":2773,"date":"2010-10-13T09:59:38","date_gmt":"2010-10-13T15:59:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.barcodesinc.com\/news\/?p=2773"},"modified":"2019-10-16T08:21:46","modified_gmt":"2019-10-16T14:21:46","slug":"raising-the-bar-for-positive-patient-identification-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.barcodesinc.com\/news\/raising-the-bar-for-positive-patient-identification-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Raising the Bar for Positive Patient Identification"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Challenge<\/strong>
\nThe concept of \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcpositive patient identification\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 is much talked-about in the
\nmedical world, and is a fundamental requirement for correct patient care. This phrase covers all types of verification and identification practices which effect patients, hospitals and procedures. Using patient ID wristbands goes a long way to ensure the correct drugs are assigned to the correct patient \u00e2\u20ac\u201c as handwritten wristbands can be misread, easily damaged or even lost.<\/p>\n

Previously ward nurses would have to hand write all patient wristbands using information from the patients medical history. By eliminating this manual process, the hospital would save time for medical staff, allowing them to focus on other aspects of their jobs.<\/p>\n

It was also important that the key patient demographics were taken from the hospital information system to avoid the risk of transcription errors.<\/p>\n

Effective barcodes<\/strong>
\nAccording to Helena Roddy, Haemovigilance Officer, Portiuncula Hospital:
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u0153We wanted to implement a blood tracking system to assist with compliance to the EU Blood Directive. The first step in this process was to introduce barcoded patient identification wristbands\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Implementation and support were also key\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Roddy continued. \u00e2\u20ac\u009dWe needed a solution which required minimal maintenance and expense.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

The hospital chose a Zebra<\/a> solution of printers<\/a> and wristbands<\/a> for use with all its adult patients and installed six LP 2844-Z printers<\/a> throughout the hospital as well as working with hospital staff to design the wristband. This design was key to its success, and had to contain the patient\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s name, date of birth, sex, and hospital number.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Intially, the new wristbands weren\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t positively accepted by some patients,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d said Roddy. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153During trials, a number of patient pointed out that their date of birth was too prominent, and could be easily seen by other patients and staff. Older female patients were particularly sensitive to this, which is understandable. Not everyone wants to promote the year they were born, so it was back to the drawing board for us!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d The wristband was subsequently redesigned with the date of birth at the back, so it sat on the inside of the patient\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s wristband.<\/p>\n

The barcode size on the wristband also had to be considered. The original 2D barcode was a PDF417 barcode, The scanners often missed it as it became too big, due to the length of the names. On advice from the local Zebra reseller, it was changed from the PDF417 and made smaller using a 2D Datamatrix code, so it would work more effectively in addition to being futureproofed.<\/p>\n

Counting the benefits<\/strong>
\nRoddy commented that the staff immediately noticed the benefits of the new system. \u00e2\u20ac\u009dBy removing the manual, handwritten processes, we saved time and improved efficiency. This subsequently allowed doctors and nurses to focus on actual patient care, rather than wasting time with manually form filling and deciphering handwriting.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Positive patient ID also became a key subject among employees using the system. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Suddenly, what was previously a dry subject matter of regulations and national standards became relevant to what staff were doing on a daily basis,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d said Roddy. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153For the first time they could see the benefits of positive patient ID and how it has affected them.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Following a successful trial, Portiuncula Hospital is planning to use the wristbands with all adult in-patients. It also intends to start using the Zebra printers in it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s laboratories for durable, high-volume label printing.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Our new system is efficient and effective, and Zebra\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s wristbands have been instrumental to this,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d concluded Roddy. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153It made perfect sense to continue working with this technology in other parts of the hospital. We\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re pleased with what we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve achieved with the system in a short space of time, and staff and patients alike have noticed the improvements. In an industry normally associated with shortages and delays, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s great that we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve used this technology to develop something that sets the standard for other hospitals, and proves what can be done with minimal time and resource.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Challenge The concept of \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcpositive patient identification\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 is much talked-about in the medical world, and is a fundamental requirement for correct patient care. This phrase covers all types of verification and identification practices which effect patients, hospitals and procedures. Using patient ID wristbands goes a long way to ensure the correct drugs are assigned […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[135],"tags":[13],"yoast_head":"\nRaising the Bar for Positive Patient Identification - Barcoding News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.barcodesinc.com\/news\/raising-the-bar-for-positive-patient-identification-2\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Raising the Bar for Positive Patient Identification - Barcoding News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Challenge The concept of \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcpositive patient identification\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 is much talked-about in the medical world, and is a fundamental requirement for correct patient care. 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