Even hospitals that follow strict rules and protocols run the risk of patient identification errors, the Healthcare Financial Management Association found in a recent report. Two sources create the most errors: overlays and duplicate medical records.
One N.Y. Hospital’s Prep Pays Off
It’s been nearly a decade since the Carolinas HealthCare System (CHS) deployed a patient-matching biometric program that uses palm vein scanning. The company began with Fujitsu PalmSecure in 2007, and that has evolved in the market to Imprivata‘s PatientSecure. CHS even created the original cradle that holds the scanner so the palm is not touching it.
87% of healthcare staff are still able to access multiple devices and workstations concurrently putting patient records at risk
Despite the best intentions, healthcare organizations can struggle with consistently and reliably collecting precise patient information and matching individuals to their medical records. The consequences of patient misidentification and mismatching can be severe, ranging from medical errors to adverse effects on the bottom line. Patient misidentification also makes it difficult for organizations to track their costs and determine the total cost of care in risk-based arrangements.