May 20, 2005

MGH introduces barcoded wristbands

Beginning June 1, the MGH will introduce a new patient wristband as part of an important quality and safety initiative. The all-white bands, which feature barcoding capabilities, are specifically designed for ease of reading. The new barcoding feature will allow staff to scan a patient's wristband to electronically store the medical record number with improved accuracy. The bands will replace the red and blue bands the hospital currently uses.

"This seemingly simple change will lay the foundation for a variety of patient safety initiatives," says Jeanette Ives Erickson, RN, MS, senior vice president for Patient Care Services and chief nurse. "Eventually, vital medical and health information, such as blood types and allergies, may be stored in the barcoding and cross-referenced with blood products and medications being administered."

During a four-week pilot on White 8, there was a 100 percent accuracy rate in patient identification, compared to an expected 3 percent error rate with manually entered medical record numbers.

Wristband-specific printers have been installed on each unit that will be using the new wristbands, and training sessions are being held for operations associates and other staff who access patient information in PATCOM. Units that treat infants are expected to change over to this new system at a later date.

For more information, send e-mail to Arjun Rao at arao1@partners.org or call (617) 724-7632. For background information and tutorials, visit http://pcs.mgh.harvard.edu/secure/wristbands/wristband_Index2.asp.