UT-Harris County Psychiatric Center
Nursing Procedures

Patient Identification

Introduction	Date of Last Review: 5/19/08 SME: Associate Director of Nursing Two (2) patient identifiers are used to positively identify patients. Acceptable identifier(s) are used whenever administering medications, taking blood samples, performing other diagnostic procedure and other specimens for clinical testing.
Policy	The following policies are in place to help identify patients: Patients must wear an armband at all times The patient’s room number is not to be used as a patient identifier
Identifiers	The staff must use two of the following method(s) to properly identify the patient: Picture Armband Patient birthdate Visual Recognition by staff/another staff member - may be utilized if the patient(s) are well known to staff
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