To say labor is a stressful time for parents is an understatement. As an admissions professional, you play a vital role in the health and safety of both mother and baby. By using proper labor and delivery ID bands you help protect mothers and their precious new babies.
One of a new parent’s worst nightmares is the fear of babies being swapped at birth. While those incidents are rare, newborns are susceptible to misidentification. In fact, Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority analysts estimate that an average of nearly two newborn misidentification events occur daily in Pennsylvania.1 In addition, a study in the American Academy of Pediatrics found identification issues contributed to an increased risk of wrong-patient orders in Neonatal Intensive Care Units2.
Consequently, the Joint Commission requires hospitals to use distinct methods of identification for newborn patients3 to help prevent misidentification.
Safe Practices for Labor and Delivery ID Bands
There are many ways you can help prevent newborn misidentification. For example, a blog post by The Sullivan Group outlines several safe practices4, including:
- Focus on standardized practices with consistency.
- Use barcoding when available.
- Ensure that information on ID band is legible.
- Place newborn ID bands on two extremities; preferably wrist and opposite ankle.
Which Labor and Delivery Bands are Right for You?
Caresfield offers a variety of labor and delivery ID band solutions. There are a couple steps to find the right fit for your facility. Firstly, determine if your department has a laser or direct thermal printer.
Laser printers are typically larger and require sheets of ID bands and toner cartridges. Direct thermal printers are an all-in-one unit. If your facility uses direct thermal printers, we’ll need a little more information to make sure the ID bands work with your existing hardware.
Related: Thermal Printers in Healthcare: An Overview of Best Uses, Considerations, and Maintenance
Handwritten or insert-type ID bands are an option as well. While they typically cost less than laser or direct thermal bands, there are also risks and hidden costs associated with write-on ID bands. It takes staff time to write patient information. If the ID band is illegible, it can take clinicians more time to identify the patient, especially with newborns.
Once you decide the right choice for your facility, request a sample. Enter your contact information and tell us the type of ID band you currently use, including the part number if possible. We can send you a comparable product to what you are currently using, as well as new options for your team to try!
You play a key role in the safety of newborns at your facility. Make sure you are using the best ID bands to make sure both momma and baby receive the proper care.
Sources
- Newborns Pose Unique Identification Challenges, http://patientsafety.pa.gov/ADVISORIES/Pages/201606_42.aspx, Patient Safety Authority, June 13, 2016
- Adelman, J, Evaluating Serial Strategies for Preventing Wrong-Patient Orders in the NICU, https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article-abstract/139/5/e20162863/38782/Evaluating-Serial-Strategies-for-Preventing-Wrong?redirectedFrom=fulltext, American Academy of Pediatrics, May 1, 2017
- R3 Report Issue 17: Distinct Newborn Identification Requirement, https://www.jointcommission.org/standards/r3-report/r3-report-issue-17-distinct-newborn-identification-requirement/#.YoPB4R3MJzo, The Joint Commission, June 25, 2018
- Newborn Identification: A National Patient Safety Initiative, https://blog.thesullivangroup.com/newborn-identification-a-national-patient-safety-initiative, The Sullivan Group, accessed May 17, 2022
