Four indefensible phlebotomy errors and how to prevent them.
The author identifies four errors in phlebotomy that are effectively indefensible in a court of law: patient misidentification, improper angle of insertion, improper vein selection, and ineffective training and evaluation of those performing venipunctures. Strategies to avoid these errors include the implementation and enforcement of specific administrative and procedural policies. A side bar on the "Ten Commandments of Phlebotomy Liability" accompanies this article.
Ernst
D J
DJ
Ernst & Associates Healthcare Consultants, New Salisbury, IN, USA.
D002983:Clinical Competence; D004282:Documentation; D006801:Humans; D007755:Laboratories, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D016365:Liability, Legal; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010355:Patient Identification Systems; D018962:Phlebotomy / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D014481:United States