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Reduction in Pediatric Identification Band Errors: A Quality Collaborative
Pediatrics, 06/08/2012
Phillips SC et al. – Over 13 months, a collaborative of pediatric institutions significantly reduced the identification (ID) band failure rate. This quality improvement learning collaborative demonstrates that safety improvements tested in a single institution can be disseminated to improve quality of care across large populations of children.
Methods- On the basis of a previously successful single-site intervention, they conducted a self-selected 6-site collaborative to reduce ID band errors in heterogeneous pediatric hospital settings.
- The collaborative had 3 phases: preparatory work and employee survey of current practice and barriers, data collection (ID band failure rate), and intervention driven by data and collaborative learning to accelerate change.
- The collaborative audited 11377 patients for ID band errors between September 2009 and September 2010.
- The ID band failure rate decreased from 17% to 4.1% (77% relative reduction).
- Interventions including education of frontline staff regarding correct ID bands as a safety strategy; a change to softer ID bands, including “luggage tag” type ID bands for some patients; and partnering with families and patients through education were applied at all institutions.