title: Reducing major identification errors within a deployed phlebotomy process.
abstract: To achieve a patient-focused care environment, many hospitals are moving phlebotomy from the laboratory to the nursing units. Although this move has benefits, it also can bring an increase in error rates. The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, New Jersey, implemented the BD Dx System patient identification system (Becton Dickinson, Franklin Lakes, New Jersey) in an effort to reduce the incidence of phlebotomy errors. This article discusses how to identify key factors in deploying phlebotomy, to analyze the specimen collection process, to set baselines for identification of errors, to identify critical steps in the blood collection process for error reduction, and to reduce errors by using the new hand-held computer technology for patient and specimen identification.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Service, Valley Hospital, Ridgewood, New Jersey, USA.
authors.forename: Lawrence J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Bologna
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lind
authors.forename: R Chris
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Riggs
mesh_terms: D002984:Clinical Laboratory Information Systems; D003951:Diagnostic Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D006801:Humans; D007755:Laboratories, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009515:New Jersey; D010355:Patient Identification Systems; D018962:Phlebotomy / Q000592:standards*; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care