Survey: 9 root causes of patient misidentification

Patient misidentification can cost the average hospital $17.4 million annually in denied claims, according to a study by the Ponemon Institute, sponsored by Imprivata.

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The survey polled 503 nurses, physicians, IT practitioners and CFOs across a number of U.S. healthcare facilities.

The respondents identified the following as the primary causes of patient misidentification:

•    Incorrect patient identification at registration (i.e. incorrect armband placement): 63 percent
•    Time pressure when treating patients: 60 percent
•    Insufficient employee/clinician training and awareness: 35 percent
•    Too many duplicate medical records in system: 34 percent
•    Registrar errors (human errors): 32 percent
•    Turf or silo issues across departments/workflows: 29 percent
•    Inadequate safety procedures: 20 percent
•    Over reliance on homegrown identification system: 15 percent
•    Patient behavioral issues (misinformation): 9 percent

Note: Respondents were permitted to give three responses.

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