Every time you seek medical assistance at the hospital, it’s likely that the receptionist will ask about your name or if you’ve already been admitted to that particular hospital. Why is this?
Canada had over 2.7 million acute inpatient hospitalizations in 2020–2021. This sheer number of hospitalizations requires a robust identity management system to ensure everyone who walks through the door is given appropriate and sufficient patient care.
One way to improve patient identity management is through the quality healthcare ID cards for healthcare facilities.
Why Is Secure Patient Identity Management Essential?
Secure patient identity management is a must for any healthcare institution. Accurate medical records help care providers do their job better across various patient demographics, ensuring patient safety and appropriate treatment.
Mistakes in patient identity management could result in:
- Incorrect patient records
- Medical errors
- Errors in collecting biological specimens
- Inappropriate treatment
- Missing healthcare information
Proper patient identification helps healthcare workers administer accurate tests and treatments for patients under their care.
How To Improve Patient Identity Management With ID Cards
Improving your institution’s patient identity management practices requires a well-structured and robust system that allows for accurate personal data collection and referencing.
Patient identification technology has evolved a lot over the years, and, although ID cards are still the norm, they have seen some significant improvements.
ID Badges/Wristbands
The most basic patient identification methods are healthcare and hospital ID cards and wristbands. They are relatively low-cost and effective for the most part, especially if the patient keeps them on.
However, ID badges and wristbands have some weaknesses due to their simplicity. They are easily transferable either through malicious actors or by accident. They also require physical contact to give out, which most healthcare providers are trying to avoid during the pandemic.
Using at Least Two Patient Identifiers
Patient identification errors could occur at any stage of diagnosis and treatment, so it’s vital to check their identity from time to time, especially when administering medications and collecting blood samples or other specimens.
Some patient data you could use are:
- The patient’s name
- Unique identification number
- Date of birth
- Telephone number
- Social security digits
- Address
Make sure to conduct patient identification in the presence of the patient and not afterward to confirm the accuracy of the identifier.
It’s also advisable to take special precautions when handling infant patients, as they could easily be misidentified. Aside from the recommended patient information, you could also include the mother’s name to ensure you have the right patient.
Biometric Identification Systems
If your institution has the budget, biometric identification systems are an excellent and nearly foolproof way to ensure accurate patient identification.
This system data captures fingerprints, iris scanning, facial recognition, and other biometric data to identify a unique patient. These identifiers are more accurate and harder to fake, making them better at positive patient identification.
Are You Looking for the Best ID Badge Systems for Your Business? Contact Us Today.
A reliable ID card system is a great security solution for any healthcare organization. A basic ID printer doesn’t cost much and will be a valuable asset for your organization in the years to come.
Establishing a secure identification system helps make the patient identification workflow more accurate and seamless, ensuring the health and safety of all stakeholders.
You can quickly establish a smart card system with AVON Security Products to gain access control and secure your patients’ electronic health records, avoiding identity theft and ensuring proper care to all who need it.
A secure identification card is widely acknowledged as an effective tool in managing a medical business. See how Avon’s ID Card Systems have everything you need for an effective ID card program.
FAQs on How To Improve Patient Identity Management With ID Cards
What information can you usually find on a patient ID wristband?
You can usually find a scannable barcode on a patient’s wristband. When scanned, this barcode will show the patient’s name, previous conditions, medications, and dosages, among others.
What are the risks of misidentifying a patient?
Misidentifying a patient could lead to inaccurate records and the possibility of administering wrong or even harmful treatments.
Is a patient’s room number a valid identifier?
No. Hospitals should avoid identifying patients by their room numbers, as this could easily be changed.