During a hospital stay or an exam, you are asked several times for your name and date of birth, and you wear an identification wristband. This is not distrust: it is patient identification safety (identitovigilance in French), an approach that ensures every treatment is given to the right person.
What is patient identification safety?
Correct patient identification is a major issue for the safety of care. It covers all the measures used to identify each patient reliably, from admission to discharge. The principle can be summed up like this: the right care for the right patient.
An identity error can have serious consequences: giving the wrong medicine, transfusing blood of an incompatible group or handing a newborn to the wrong parents.
When you arrive: the identity document
At admission you are asked for an identity document (ID card or passport). It allows staff to record your identity without data entry errors. Your physical presence at reception is therefore required.
Your details (surname, first name, date of birth, contact information) are linked to a unique identifier that follows your file throughout your care.
The identification wristband
The wristband is one of the most important tools of patient identification. It is put on as soon as you arrive and you keep it until you leave.
What you can do
- Check that your surname, first name and date of birth are correctly written on the wristband.
- If you have not been offered a wristband, ask for one.
- If it has been removed or lost, tell staff so that it can be replaced.
Why are you asked the same questions?
Before a blood test, an X-ray, an endoscopy or an operation, the team checks your identity. You will be asked to state your own name and date of birth rather than answer “yes” to a closed question: this is the safest method.
These checks are part of the quality programme at La Rose Clinic, which is engaged in the Canadian accreditation process. Your active participation matters: by confirming your identity at every step, you directly contribute to the safety of your care.
Samples, records and procedures: what does the check cover?
Identification concerns not only the person but everything that relates to them: samples, results and parts of the record, including the electronic one. To avoid copying errors, the recommendations favour a patient label over manual transcription.
- Samples: the WHO encourages staff to label blood tubes and other specimens in the presence of the patient.
- Results and reports: they must be attached to the right record.
- Before a procedure: the French National Authority for Health (HAS) expects a match between the person receiving the procedure and the prescription, with traceability.
For high-risk steps, such as entering the operating theatre or a transfer, a double check (checklist) is recommended by the ARS Grand Est (a regional health agency in France).
Namesakes: why one item is not enough
A surname and first name alone cannot tell two people apart: the ARS Grand Est gives the example of a namesake that requires identities to be reconciled. The WHO recommends using at least two identifiers, for example name and date of birth, at admission, at transfer and before care; the room number is not one of them.
The WHO also insists on two points: checking identity even when the caregiver knows the patient, and having protocols to distinguish patients who share the same name or who have no identity document.
What if the patient cannot speak?
Some patients cannot state their identity: a newborn, a very young child, an unconscious person or someone under anaesthesia. In these situations, the professional checks identity by reading the wristband. This is why it must be put on at arrival and kept on for the whole stay.
The wristband does not guarantee the safety of care on its own. It is added to the other checks: questioning, checking documents and making sure that identity, record and planned procedure match. It is also important to explain the reasons for these checks to the patient, so that they are not surprised at being questioned regularly.
Are you accompanying a relative? You can help the team by confirming their identity and pointing out any error on their wristband or documents.
Your role in practice
The WHO invites staff to involve patients and their relatives at every step of identification: confirm your details, identify yourself before a medicine or an exam, and raise any concern or ask your questions.
Further reading at La Rose Clinic
Frequently asked questions
Why do I have to show an identity document?
It allows your exact identity to be recorded from admission and avoids data entry errors or mix-ups between patients.
Can I take off my wristband?
It is recommended to keep it on for the whole stay. If it is uncomfortable or has been removed, tell the team so that it can be replaced.
Why am I asked my name before every treatment?
It is a safety check. It ensures that the treatment, medicine or exam is really meant for you.
Why are two identity items needed?
A name or first name can be shared by several patients. The WHO recommends at least two identifiers, such as name and date of birth, and not the room number.
How can I help make my care safer?
State your identity yourself, check your wristband and documents, and tell the team about any error or question.
References
- AP-HM, Identitovigilance (fr.ap-hm.fr)
- Centre hospitalier Châteauroux-Le Blanc, L’identitovigilance (www.ch-chateauroux-leblanc.fr)
- L’identitovigilance en psychiatrie, Annales Médico-Psychologiques (ScienceDirect) (www.sciencedirect.com)
- Handinorme, Identitovigilance : définition, enjeux et bonnes pratiques (www.handinorme.com)
- OMS, Patient Safety Solutions : Patient identification (cdn.who.int)
- HAS, Identification du patient à toutes les étapes de sa prise en charge (www.has-sante.fr)
- ARS Grand Est, Identitovigilance : points clés (www.grand-est.ars.sante.fr)
This article is for information only. It does not replace a medical consultation: if in doubt, talk to your doctor.
