title: [Patient identification in healthcare organizations: an emerging debate].
abstract: The patient identification process is essential to ensure safety and quality of assistance in healthcare institutions. The use of a wristband for identification is common practice, although cultural organization, material and human factors cause non-conformity resulting in errors or adverse events. The aim of this article is to highlight constituent elements of the patient identification process by means of wristbands and discuss topics related to the implementation of this process in hospitals. This study was based on theoretic references and standardizations of accrediting organizations and bodies that debate security in the hospital environment and incentives for safe patient identification. It was concluded that patient identification by means of wristbands is recommended internationally although there are loopholes in relation to protocol, effective execution and evaluation of the process to support management and healthcare actions.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Gerenciamento em Enfermagem da Escola de Enfermagem da Universidade de São Paulo. terezinha.tase@hc.fm.usp.br
authors.forename: Terezinha Hideco
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Tase
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Gerenciamento em Enfermagem da Escola de Enfermagem da Universidade de São Paulo, Mestre em Saúde e Gestão do trabalho, Bolsista Capes, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Daniela Campos de Andrade
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Lourenção
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Gerenciamento em Enfermagem da Escola de Enfermagem da Universidade de São Paulo, Mestre em Enfermagem, Coordenadora de Prática Assistencial do Hospital Alemão Oswaldo Cruz, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Suzana Maria
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Bianchini
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Orientaçã, Escola de Enfermagem da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Daisy Maria Rizatto
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Tronchin
mesh_terms: D000068:Accreditation; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D003219:Confidentiality; D004282:Documentation; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007297:Inpatients; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000517:prevention & control; D015279:Organizational Culture; D010355:Patient Identification Systems / Q000379:methods*; D061214:Patient Safety; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D006113:United Kingdom; D014481:United States