Transcript Wristband Workgroup

Wristband Standardization
Project
Joint Project Sponsors:
Colorado Hospital Association (CHA)
Colorado Foundation for Medical Care (CFMC)
Background
• Wristbands meant to designate a certain
medical condition should be consistent
throughout healthcare facilities.
• Certain colors become associated with
certain medical conditions.
• Multiple wristband colors in use for the
same medical condition is a patient
safety concern.
Background
• Results from a survey of 57 Colorado hospitals
showed:
• 5 different wristband colors in use for both
DNR and Allergy designation.
• 6 different wristband colors in use for both
Latex Allergy and Fall Risk designation
National Work on
Wristband
Standardization
• Pennsylvania and Arizona were first states to
implement wristband standardization.
• Many other states, especially in southwest
region, are currently working on similar
projects.
Arizona and
Pennsylvania
Recommendations
Arizona
Pennsylvania
Purple
Blue
Allergies
Red
Red
Fall Risk
Yellow
Yellow
Green*
Green
Pink*
Pink
DNR
Latex
Restricted Extremity
*Arizona is not currently recommending that all hospitals use Latex or Restricted Extremity bands,
however they recommend the suggested colors if state hospitals prefer to use a separate band for
these medical conditions.
Arizona and
Pennsylvania Facts
Number of hospitals in the
state adopting the
standardization model
Arizona
Pennsylvania
100% hospital
commitment from CEOs
11 hospitals
No
No
New Mexico
Utah
Nevada
California
Wyoming
Oregon
Washington
Montana
Oklahoma
West Virginia
None at this time
Mandated through state
legislature
Other states moving forward
with same color adoption
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Recommendations for
Wristband
Standardization in
Colorado
• Follow Arizona model
• 10 other states,
mostly in
southwestern region,
are also considering
the Arizona model
Allergy
RED
DNR
PURPLE
Fall Risk
YELLOW
Latex
Allergy
GREEN
Restricted
Extremity
PINK
Why Consider
Regional Adoption?
• Colorado receives nurses most often from New
Mexico and Oklahoma.
• Colorado nurses are most likely to travel to
Arizona and California.
• We share borders and patients with states that
are currently considering the recommended
model.
ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS
DNR - Why not use
blue?
• Patient safety is about eliminating any
potential for confusion
• Code Blue = Resuscitate Patient
• Blue Wristband = DO NOT Resuscitate
• 73% of Colorado hospitals currently use
Code Blue to alert medical staff of a COR
ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS
DNR - Why use
Purple?
• Purple is the most distinctive color option
available
• Orange too close in the color spectrum to red
and yellow, which are currently being used to
designate allergies and fall risk, respectively
• Green currently being used to designate a latex
allergy
DNR - If using the purple
band, do we still need to
look in the chart?
• Yes. A chart should always be reviewed even if
alert wristbands are used.
• It is important to know the current status of an
advanced directive so that a patient’s and/or
family’s wish can be honored.
Allergies - Why use
red?
• Results of the hospitals surveyed showed that
the majority of Colorado hospitals already use
the color red.
Allergies - Do we write
the allergies on the
wristband too?
• It is recommended that allergies be written in
the medical record according to your hospital’s
policy and procedure.
• It is suggested that allergies not be written on
the wristband for a couple of reasons including:
• Legibility
• Assumption that list is comprehensive and upto-date
Fall Risk - Why did
you select yellow?
• Yellow has an association that implies “caution”
• Caregivers would want to have knowledge to
use caution with a patient who has a history of
previous falls, dizziness, balance problems,
weakness or confusion about their current
surroundings.
Any barriers to
implementation?
• Both Arizona and Pennsylvania have noted little
staff resistance.
• Cost was not noted as a major barrier in either
state
• Education was not noted as a barrier
• Both states provided hospitals with toolkits
that contained educational materials
Additional Questions
• Donna Kusuda
Chair of Quality Professionals’ Group (CHA)
HCA/HealthONE
[email protected]
• Crystal Berumen
Colorado Hospital Association (CHA)
[email protected]
• Cari Fouts
Colorado Foundation for Medical Care (CFMC)
[email protected]