Ohio hospitals standardizing use of wrist bands

The People's Defender, March 6, 2008

Ohio hospitals are collaborating to standardize the use of colored wrist bands to identify patient conditions. Many of the state's hospitals have used colored bands for some time, but a recent survey shows that as many as 19 different colors are used, with 28 different meanings, to indicate allergies, infections, and other conditions. This makes it difficult for caregivers that work at different facilities and increases the chance for medical errors.