Confirming Patient Identity (Patient Identifiers)

Definition/Etiology:

• 2 identifiers required
• From a competent source
• Not diagnosis
• May be artificial but must be unique

Considerations:

• Mentally incompetent
  • Dementia
  • Sedated
  • Temporary ID’s
    • Not confusing with real names
    • Should be evidently temporary
    • “Jon Doe”“Jane Doe”
    • Name alert beware
    • UNIQUE
• ID’s from other facilities = BAD
  • MRN = BAD
  • DOB = GOOD

Nurse’s Role:

• Replace with standardized presentation
  • Armbands
  • Consider surgical site (arm)
• BEWARE dating format
  • MM/DD/YY or DD/MM/YY!?
• Review with awake patient
  • Know nicknames!

Pitfalls:

• Name alerts
• Cut wristbands left in OR
• “Call my gallbladder tomorrow”

Examples:

• Patient answer “seven six ninety-four”
• Vascular/trauma all extremities

Linchpins (Key Points):

• 2 identifiers
• UNIQUE
• Cannot rely on patient’s own advocacy