Reduction in specimen labeling errors after implementation of a positive patient identification system in phlebotomy

Area of Science:

• Medical Error Prevention
• Laboratory Medicine
• Health Informatics

Background:

• Accurate patient identification is critical for preventing medical errors.
• Traditional methods can present challenges in ensuring correct patient identification during procedures like phlebotomy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a barcode-based positive patient identification system on specimen labeling errors in inpatient phlebotomy.
• To assess the system's effect on the frequency of mislabeled and unlabeled samples.

Main Methods:

• A before-and-after study design was employed to assess the implementation of a barcode positive patient identification system.
• Laboratory data on mislabeled and unlabeled samples were analyzed pre- and post-implementation.
• Patient-reported data on wristband checks were collected.

Main Results:

• Specimen labeling errors decreased from 5.45 to 3.2 per 10,000 samples (P = .0013).
• The system is estimated to have prevented 108 mislabeling events in one year.
• A manual label preprinting step, prone to errors, was eliminated, and patient-reported wristband checks increased.

Conclusions:

• Barcode positive patient identification technology significantly reduces specimen identification errors in phlebotomy.
• The implementation led to improved patient identification accuracy and workflow efficiency.
• This technology offers a robust solution for enhancing patient safety in healthcare settings.