The hospital has a process in place to correctly identify patients when providing care, treat...

(1)

The hospital has a process in place to correctly identify patients when providing care, treatment, and services. This includes using at least two patient identifiers. The hospital does not use the patient's room number or physical location as an identifier. Note: Examples of patient identifiers may include but are not limited to the following: - Assigned identification number (for example, medical record number) - Telephone number or another person-specific identifier - Electronic identification technology coding, such as bar coding or RFID, that includes two or more person-specific identifiers

(2)

The hospital labels containers used for blood and other specimens in the presence of the patient.

(3)

The hospital uses distinct methods of identification for newborn patients. Note: Examples of methods to prevent misidentification may include the following: - Distinct naming systems that include using the mother’s first and last names and the newborn’s gender (for example: “Smith, Judy Girl” or “Smith, Judy Girl A” and “Smith, Judy Girl B" for multiples) - Standardized practices for identification banding (for example, using two body sites and/or bar coding for identification) - Communication tools used among staff (for example, visually alerting staff with signage noting newborns with similar names)