Use patient wristbands to identify and locate patients
The responsible agencies (WHO, the German Coalition for Patient Safety (APS), the EU Commission etc.) have good reasons for recommending the use of patient wristbands for unequivocal identification of patients, which is an essential element of a living patient safety and security concept in the day-to-day hospital routine. It must be possible to identify patients correctly in every conceivable situation, even if they are unconscious or unable to understand the local language. The reasons for introducing patient wristbands may be varied: as a precautionary measure to prevent mistaken patient identity, to use RFID technology to locate patients and equipment, to avoid high third-party liability insurance premiums, to meet the requirements imposed by certification bodies etc.
What the responsible institutions have to say ...