Decreasing mislabeled laboratory specimens using barcode technology and bedside printers.
Mislabeling of laboratory samples has been found to be a high-risk issue in acute care hospitals. The goal of this study was to decrease mislabeled blood specimens. In the first year after the implementation of a positive patient identification system using barcoding and computer technology, the number of labeling errors decreased from 103 to 8 per year. The outcome was clinically and statistically significant (P < .001).
Howard County General Hospital, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Columbia, Maryland 21044, USA. jbrown@hcgh.org
Judy E
JE
Brown
Nancy
N
Smith
Beth R
BR
Sherfy
D003199:Computer Systems / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007755:Laboratories, Hospital / Q000592:standards; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000517:prevention & control; D017056:Medical Laboratory Personnel / Q000592:standards*; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D010355:Patient Identification Systems / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems / Q000592:standards*; D011327:Printing; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012308:Risk Management / Q000379:methods; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000592:standards*