The Joint Commission developed the newborn identification requirement for all accredited hospitals and critical access hospitals as part of one of the organization’s national patient safety goals.
The goal requires hospitals to “use at least two patient identifiers when providing care, treatment and services.”
The organization provided several examples of identification methods for newborn patients, including:
- Distinct naming systems using the mother’s first and last names and the newborn’s gender (“Smith, Judy Girl” or “Smith, Judy Girl A” and “Smith, Judy Girl B” for multiples).
- Standardized practices for identification banding (two body-site identification and barcoding).
- Establishing identification-specific communication tools among staff (visually alerting staff with signage noting newborns with similar names).
The Joint Commission also released a new report to help hospitals comply with the requirement.
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