When a trauma patients is ID'd with Jane/John Doe or similar emergency ID, sample collected, crossmatches performed..then name is changed how are you managing the chain of identification? Are you collecting a new specimen and repeating the testing? Does your patient registraton wait until the need for blood has passed then change the name and a new sample obtained? 5.11.3 states "the transfusion service shall confirm that all identifying information on the request is in agreement with that on the sample label. In case of discrepancy or doubt, another sample shall be obtained.?

Once the name is changed, the name on the request changes. It seems to be in compliance the only alternative is to recollect the sample with the new ID.

We use the typenex system and handle a name change by doing a band change. We remove the old band (with name "Trauma Green") and replace it with a new one with patient's real name.

Hopefuly, we will still have 2 patient identifiers that match (the typenex number and the account number or medical record number.) If there was a change in addition to name change (e.g., now a number did not match) we'd get a new specimen.

We have asked that our registration staff not do any name changes, etc. until the dust has settled (we have told them to wait at least one hour.) They don't always wait but, fortunately, most of the time that patient is not using blood.

Linda Frederick

We require that the trauma ID band remain on the patient (along with the secondary patient name ID band) until the blood bank calls and gives them the go-ahead to cut it off. We have our computer system programmed that any time a patient's name is changed in the computer, a report auto-prints to the blood bank printer notifying us. When the patient is given their real name in the computer, their "trauma name" is moved to their "Maiden/Other Name" data field so you can reference back to that. Once everything is reconciled, we then call them and allow them to cut the trauma band off.

We require that the trauma ID band remain on the patient (along with the secondary patient name ID band) until the blood bank calls and gives them the go-ahead to cut it off. We have our computer system programmed that any time a patient's name is changed in the computer, a report auto-prints to the blood bank printer notifying us. When the patient is given their real name in the computer, their "trauma name" is moved to their "Maiden/Other Name" data field so you can reference back to that. Once everything is reconciled, we then call them and allow them to cut the trauma band off.

What I.S. system do you use?