[Assessment of the implementation of an unambiguous patient identification system in an acute care hospital].
OBJECTIVE
To achieve implantation of unequivocal identification of all admitted patients, to ensure the identification of patients with an individual bracelet integrated into the clinical record, and to involve health professionals in this process.


METHODS
A working group was created, which analyzed the current situation in the hospital, selected materials, and designed the patient identification procedure and support material for patients and health professionals. After the system was implemented, coverage was assessed through direct observation. Implementation and satisfaction among patients and health professionals was evaluated through specifically designed questionnaires.


RESULTS
Coverage was 79.4%. Most (82.8%) professionals knew why the identification bracelet was used and 57.8% thought it helped to avoid patient identification errors. Twenty percent used the bracelet data when administering medication, 29.2% when taking blood samples and 25.6% on entry to the operating room. Nearly all (88.3%) patients reported that the bracelet was not uncomfortable and 62.8% reported they received no information when the bracelet was placed.


CONCLUSIONS
Acceptable coverage of the patient identification bracelets was achieved. However, the involvement of health professionals in the identification process was low, since the bracelets were not routinely used in established procedures and patients were only infrequently provided with information when the bracelets were placed.
Martínez-Ochoa
Eva M
EM
Servicio de Planificación, Evaluación y Calidad, Consejería de Salud de La Rioja, Logroño, La Rioja, Spain. eochoaes@yahoo.es
Cestafe-Martínez
Adolfo
A
Martínez-Sáenz
M Soledad
MS
Belío-Blasco
Cristina
C
Caro-Berguilla
Yolanda
Y
Rivera-Sanz
Félix
F
D000208:Acute Disease; D006761:Hospitals / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D010355:Patient Identification Systems / Q000592:standards*