Positive Patient Identification System

A new system of positive patient identification (PPID) is in use in the emergency department of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC, PA, USA) as part of the department's efforts to reduce medical errors.

PPID uses barcode technology to ensure the "five rights” of medication administration: that the right patient receives the right dose of the right medication by the right route at the right time. Barcodes are placed on employee badges, patient wristbands, and dosage packets. The barcodes are scanned by a nurse at the time medication is administered to verify that all five rights of medication administration are being met. PPID allows caregivers to safely administer medications at the patient bedside by using handheld, wall-mounted, and desktop PCs, as well as mobile medication carts equipped with wireless PCs. PPID has also been implemented in all inpatient units at the UPMC South Side Hospital. It will also be used in same-day surgery and the respiratory therapy departments of South Side.

A study of PPID use in medication administration across all patient units at UPMC's Presbyterian Hospital resulted in a 55% decrease in the medication error rate and 98.6% compliance with the patient identification/medications administration process after six months of implementation.

"While every aspect of the UPMC electronic health record has improved healthcare quality, the PPID project delivers immediate safety and quality results at the point of care and in medication delivery,” remarked G Daniel Martich, M.D., vice president of eRecord at UPMC.




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University of Pittsburgh Med Center