Experience in using barcoded wristband systems

A Blood Bank Technical Specialist at a hospital in Illinois reports that they do not use a barcoded wristband system, but they are actively looking into available options. They 'need' to find a system that is compatible with all areas of their hospital including general laboratory, blood bank, pharmacy, and nursing services. The inquiring colleague is most interested in how such a system could enhance safety of their blood banking practices including the identification of crossmatch specimens and the linkage of recipients to transfused blood products. She is aware of the discussion in the paper in Transfusion Medicine Reviews (2003 Jul;17(3):169-80) entitled 'Patient safety and blood transfusion: new solutions', but would like to hear from institutions that have gained some experience with a system in order to learn what works and does not work. Her laboratory is currently using a MISYS computer package. The hospital's local requirement is for each pre-transfusion sample to be identified with a handwritten label. Their process of documenting the identification process at the time of transfusion is also done manually.

The following comments have been received.

ADDENDA Feb. 19, 2005

1. Professor Mike Murphy of the National Blood Service and John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, England (attributions used with permission) reports that according to the the Serious Hazards of Transfusion (SHOT) scheme in the UK, ABO incompatible transfusion continues to be one of the most frequent serious incidents associated with transfusion (http://www.shotuk.org). Efforts in the UK to reduce the occurrence of ABO incompatible transfusion by education/training have been ineffective, and national and local audits show that bedside checking is rarely carried out correctly.
   
   Dr. Murphy reports on his group's work on barcode patient identification in Oxford, which they believe provides electronic control and documentation of the complete hospital transfusion process, and improves the safety and effectiveness of transfusion. A project team was established in 2001, including participants from the John Radcliffe Hospital, the National Blood Service, and two commercial partners (Olympus and iSoft). A nurse from each clinical area involved in the project was assigned to provide input into the design of the system, effective liaison and training of colleagues, and two patients have recently joined the team to provide a patient perspective. A description of the initial work is provided in