Promoting Correct Patient Identification in the Intensive Care Unit of a General Hospital in Tabriz, Iran: A Best Practice Implementation Project

Introduction: Patient identification, defined as the accurate matching of a patient to intended interventions while communicating identity information consistently throughout care, is critical for patient safety. Incorrect patient identification is a leading unintentional cause of patient harm and poses a significant safety challenge in healthcare facilities. This project aimed to enhance correct patient identification in the intensive care unit of a general hospital in Tabriz, Iran. Methods: A clinical audit, utilizing the JBI Practical Application of Clinical Evidence System (JBI PACES) tool, was conducted. Seven audit criteria, representing best-practice recommendations for correct patient identification, were employed. The project involved a baseline audit, the implementation of multiple strategies, and a follow-up audit to assess changes in practice. Results: Significant improvements were observed in the follow-up audit compared to the baseline audit, including the use of at least two identifiers to check patient identity before care (from ۲۲% to ۱۰۰%), provision of clear protocols for patients lacking identification or with similar identities (from ۱۷% to ۹۴%), labeling of containers in the presence of patients (from ۳۳% to ۸۹%), education of healthcare workers in correct patient identification procedures (from ۳۳% to ۹۴%), patient education on the importance of correct identification procedures (from ۲۸% to ۹۴%), and utilization of white identification bands or biometric technologies across healthcare facilities (from ۶% to ۲۲%). Conclusions: The application of standard clinical audit tools in hospitals can enhance the quality of patient services and improve the effectiveness of interventions by identifying weaknesses in the patient care process.

Keywords:

best practice , Correct patient identification , clinical audit , Evidence-based practice , person-centered