Barcoded ID Bracelets

[David Saikin]

Can anyone explain to me how the barcoded ID bracelets are used to verify transfusions? How do I know that the specimen is from that particular patient AND attach the xm'd units to that specimen?

[MAGNUM]

Simple. The barcoded bands act in the same manner as the Hollister bands that most everyone is used to. The Typenex barcoded card includes the band that is labeled at the time of draw, labels for the specimen tubes, and individual labels for the units. The phlebotomist collects the specimen and labels it with the barcode and armbands the patient with the band that has the same barcode number. When received into the meditech blood bank module, the barcode number is entered into the system and is now not reusable. Once we have completed the xmatch, we tag the unit with the crossmatch tag and affix one of the smaller barcoded labels to the unit. When it is checked out to the nurse, they go to the patient room and start scanning using BCTA (Barcode Enabled Transfusion Administration). They scan the patient hospital band, then they scan the patient blood band, then they scan the unit label in sequence of unit number, unit product, unit type, and unit expiration date. If any of the above scans is incorrect, the nurse gets a prompt to return to the blood bank. The computer system tracks the unit transfusion for starting time, plus the nurses are forced to perform their vital signs at appropriate times. Then when the transfusion is completed, the nurse MUST end the transfusion in the computer system. All this data is automatically sent to the blood bank module.

Anything further, email me jeffrey.leeper@hcahealthcare.com.

[Mary**]

Sounds great. Does it only work with Meditech LIS?

[MAGNUM]

As far as I know, BCTA is a meditech product. What platform are you using?

[Mary**]

Cerner.

[Mabel Adams]

Magnum,

Does the nurse scan the barcoded band number from the unit at the time of transfusion or is the check against the BB wristband number made in Meditech between the band number entered into Meditech in the BB and that scanned on the patient's wrist at the time of transfusion? If not, what is the purpose of the band number barcode sticker on the unit?

[MAGNUM]

As part of the transfusion process, the nurse scans the barcoded bracelet on the patient. In order to get the barcoded bracelet, we had to get the stickers for the units with barcodes also, but by scanning the hospital band then the patient blood band the two are tied together and if the wrong product or unit number are issued, flags go up and the blood must be brought back before transfusion, works wonderfully.