Patient Safety Topic

Patient Care — Wristbands

Overview

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The lack of consistency in wristband meanings and in how they are applied presents problems when patients are transferred among facilities and when patients are cared for by clinicians who work in multiple facilities. A group of healthcare organizations in northeastern and central Pennsylvania  started a grassroots effort, The Color of Safety Task Force, to meet the challenge of making this practice safer. The task force made an implementation manual and other resources available to the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority.

Articles

 

Educational Tools

​Patient Safety: Color Banding
This manual from the Color of Safety Task Force outlines implementation strategies for color-coded wristbands, including staff and patient education.

Banding Together for Patient Safety
This educational poster can be used or adapted to reinforce the relationships between the color-coded wristbands and their meanings in specific healthcare facilities.​

Standardizing Colored Wrist Bands to Support Patient Safety
This brochure can be used to reinforce a healthcare facility's decision to participate in a patient safety initiative which is aimed at reducing the risks associated with the use of colored wristbands.

Multimedia

​Visit this section in the future for any multimedia associated with this patient safety topic.

Safety Tips for Patients