Patient identification and procedure matching
Risks arise when there is a mismatch between a patient and any component of their care. To prevent this, health professionals must have systems and protocols in place to correctly match patients to the appropriate procedures.
Why is patient identification and procedure matching important?
Patient identification and the matching of a patient to an intended treatment is performed routinely in all care settings.
Incorrect identification can result in the wrong person receiving care, a person receiving the wrong procedure, medication errors, transfusion errors and diagnostic testing errors.
Our National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards require health service organisations to have systems in place that ensure correct identification and procedure matching for patients.
Patient identification wristbands
Wristbands containing patient information have been the standard method of identifying patients in hospitals for many years. Our specifications for a standard patient identification band, fact sheet, and frequently asked questions outline the specific requirements for patient identification wristbands.
Patient/procedure matching protocols
Protocols for matching patients to their intended procedure, treatment or investigation are essential for ensuring the right patient receives the right care.
The type of protocol depends on the procedure, the design of the workflow in a particular work area or organisation, and the risks for the patient.
For example, the Surgical Safety Checklist and Implementation Manual is the national agreed strategy for surgical safety. This has been adapted from the World Health Organisation by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons for use in Australian health services.