The wristbands you use to identify patients may not seem important, but they are – or should be – a critical component of every facility’s patient safety protocols. Healthcare providers and regulatory agencies recognize the impact patient identification has on safety. JCAHO even has requirements that address positive patient identification. In response, manufacturers are implementing new features and functionality that help you enhance patient safety, reduce errors and improve your efficiency at the same time.

To avoid errors and increase patient safety, St. John emphasizes “24 x 7 Patient Identification”. It’s the simple, critical idea that a barcode and other patient identifiers must be on the patient’s arm at all times in order to be effective. Leaving a patient without identification even for a few minutes exposes the patient – and your hospital – to potentially harmful consequences. Mistakes resulting from un-banded patients can be life-threatening. Re-banding patients immediately at their bedside when a band is removed ensures that patients are constantly identified throughout their stay.

There are a number of important factors to consider beyond simply adding a barcode when you choose a wristband. St. John offers expertise you can count on to help you make the best possible choice for your particular needs.

Wristband Styles to Consider

Think about your preferred wristband style and the printing techniques you will use in parallel. Both can influence how you proceed and the choices you have. Consider the people who will put the bands on patients, the LOS you want the band to withstand – keeping in mind that no bands will last forever – and the number of steps involved in getting this important patient identification tool into use. No matter your decision, St. John can supply the wristband you choose for your facility.

Thermal wristbands, which are made of various types of film materials, like polyester and polyethylene, can be fastened with adhesive closures or clips designed to fit through holes that are punched in the band on either end. Bands can be color-coded, but keep in mind that if you use color-coded thermal wristbands, each color requires its own printer or a media switch each time a new color is required. Another option available with some wristbands is the use of color-coded clasps that are fastened directly onto the band.

Laser wristbands come in different formats and can be a combination of paper and polyester or simply a film. Another laser printable wristband option is St. John’s new SoftBand™ line of patient ID, which is made with a cloth material that promotes skin integrity and exceptional patient comfort. The principal method for securing these bands is via adhesive tabs. Laser wristbands often come with companion labels on the same sheet, so users benefit from additional patient identification tools besides the wristband. Laser wristbands can be color-coded using colored labels, or with software driving a color laser printer.

Labels applied to wristbands vary greatly in character. St. John’s proprietary Biologics product line offers a consolidated wristband, and has extensive patient safety features, including the ability to incorporate alerts and blood ID into the patient’s ID band. A tethered patient ID tag on which the label is placed can easily be used to re-band patients when needed.

Other label-based wristbands are less robust, but they may provide a reasonable alternative for short stay patients. Unprotected paper labels stuck to a band are usually un-scanable after one day, but polyester and durable labels can last longer. Some bands provide a laminating flap to protect the image on the label.

Scanability

Caregivers don’t like the frustration that comes from being unable to scan a patient’s barcode, so be sure you consider the scanability of the wristbands you select. The barcode’s quality is of ultimate importance, but so, too, are the symbology selected, orientation (for linear codes), and the style and size of wristband on which you print them. Keep in mind that linear barcodes scan best when on a flat surface.