AFT Resolution

PATIENT SAFETY: STANDARDIZATION OF COLOR-CODED PATIENT WRISTBANDS

WHEREAS, the use of colored wristbands has increased in hospitals to communicate clinical information other than the patient’s identity; and

WHEREAS, the use of these wristbands is significant by their color (i.e., used to communicate meaning) on some or all wristbands; and

WHEREAS, color-coded wristband use appears more prevalent among hospitals, wristband color-coding is also common among ambulatory surgical facilities with some facilities using as many as five color-coded wristbands, in addition to the patient identification (ID) band; and

WHEREAS, the potential for confusion is obvious and significant, e.g., in the use of wristbands to communicate a patient’s do not resuscitate (DNR) status. A facility may use the color blue to indicate patients designated as DNR. In other facilities the same message is communicated using purple, yellow, pink, red and other colors; and

WHEREAS, while DNR status may be most commonly associated with the color blue, other facilities use this same color to signify that a patient:

Is prone to fall.
Has a pacemaker.
Is an elopement risk (i.e., may wander off).
Has a latex or tape allergy.
Is on anticoagulants (blood thinners).
Has diabetes.
Has a name similar to another patient’s.
Should not have blood drawn from this arm.
Is an outpatient; and

WHEREAS, facilities do not have policies requiring patients to remove wristbands that they may have been wearing outside the facility; and

WHEREAS, there is little standardization across facilities as to the meaning of a color, thus increasing the risk of a medical error:

RESOLVED, that the American Federation of Teachers urge the American Hospital Association and all other patient safety organizations and other concerned groups to adopt a standard for color-coded wristbands, including the reduction of the number of colors to primary to avoid misinterpretation of shades of color; and

RESOLVED, that the American Federation of Teachers encourage the inclusion of text on the colored bands to prevent patient care errors.

(2009)