Color-Coded Wristband Standardization in California Confusion regarding wristband color resulted in a patient being labeled DNR erroneously.

Color-Coded Wristband Standardization in California In 2004, California hospitals reported an average of 1 out of 10 nursing positions as vacant (funded but unfilled positions). 75% of the hospitals in the state are using Registry or Traveling Nurses to staff vacant positions. The potential for confusion is obvious, significant and avoidable.

Color-Coded Wristband Standardization in California Under the direction of Hospital Council, California Hospital Association and the Association of California Nurse Leaders, a workgroup was convened to address the standardization of color-coded wristbands in California. Standardize three condition alerts: –Do Not Resuscitate –Allergy –Fall Risk Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. ~ A. Einstein

Color-Coded Wristband Standardization in California Workgroup Deliverables –Standardize color-coded wristbands statewide. –Reach consensus on color definitions. –Develop work plan and implementation timeline.

Color-Coded Wristband Standardization in California The implementation materials include: 1.Colors for the alert designation 2.Logic for the colors selected 3.Frequently asked questions 4.Sample policy and procedure 5.Competency checklist

Color-Coded Wristband Standardization in California Our safety as a state and success in this effort will depend on the participation of and adoption by each and every hospital in this state, as soon as feasible.

Color-Coded Wristband Standardization in California Recommendations for Adoption

Color-Coded Wristband Standardization in California Do Not Resuscitate Recommendation: DNR - Purple It is recommended that hospitals adopt the color PURPLE for the Do Not Resuscitate designation with the acronym “DNR” embossed/printed on the wristband. Calling CODE BLUE! Is used by a majority of CA hospitals to call a code team. If CA selected the color blue for the DNR wristband, the potential for confusion exists. “Does blue mean I code or I do not code?”

Color-Coded Wristband Standardization in California Do Not Resuscitate Recommendation - PURPLE for Do Not Resuscitate 1.Why not blue? –Should not be the same color that is used for calling a code. –Registry, turnover, travelers, etc. 2.Why not green? –Color blind. –“Go ahead” confusion. 3.If we adopt purple, do we still need to look in the chart? –Yes! Always look in the chart. –Code designation can and does change during a patient’s stay.

Color-Coded Wristband Standardization in California Allergy Allergies Recommendation: Allergy - Red It is recommended that hospitals adopt the color RED for the Allergy designation with the words “ALLERGY” embossed/printed on the wristband.

Color-Coded Wristband Standardization in California Allergy Recommendation - RED for Allergy 1.Why Red? –80% of CA hospitals currently use red for allergy alert. 2.Any other reasons? –Associated with STOP or DANGER (traffic lights and ambulance/police lights). 3.Do we write the allergies on the wristband too? –No because that may create new errors due to: Legibility issues. Lengthy list will not fit on the wristband. Allergy list may change. Patient chart should be the source for the specifics.

Color-Coded Wristband Standardization in California Fall Risk Recommendation: Fall - Yellow It is recommended that hospitals adopt the color YELLOW for the Fall Risk designation with the words “FALL RISK” embossed/ printed on the wristband. Falls account for more than 70 percent of the total injury- related health care costs among people 60 years of age and older.

Color-Coded Wristband Standardization in California Fall Risk Recommendation - YELLOW for Fall Risk 1.Why Yellow? –Associated with CAUTION or SLOW DOWN (stop lights and school buses) –Caregivers want to know to be on alert and use caution with a patients who have a history of previous falls, dizziness or balance problems, fatigability, or confusion about their current surroundings.

Color-Coded Wristband Standardization in California Currently Using Other Colors? If your facility currently uses other colors for DNR, Allergy or Fall Risk, it is recommend the hospital stop using these colors for a period of at least 6 months before implementing the work plan.

Color-Coded Wristband Standardization in California

Color Coded Wristband Standardization in California Staff Education Tools

Color-Coded Wristband Standardization in California Staff Education Color-Coded Wristbands and Risk-Reduction Strategies ============================ 1.Use wristbands with the alert message pre-printed (such as “DNR”). 2.Remove any “social (community) cause” colored wristbands. 3.Remove wristbands that have been applied from another facility or pre- hospital wristbands.

Color-Coded Wristband Standardization in California Staff Education Color-Coded Wristbands and Risk Reduction Strategies =================================== 4.Initiate banding upon initial patient assessment and upon a change in condition, or when information is received during hospital stay. 5.Educate patients and family members regarding the wristbands. 6.Coordinate chart/white board/care plan/door signage information/stickers with same color coding. 7.Educate staff to verify patient color-coded wristbands upon assessment, hand off of care and facility transfer communication.

Color-Coded Wristband Standardization in California Why have a script for staff? 1.We know how we say something is as important as what we say. A script sheet will help staff work on the delivery as well as the words. 2.Serves as an aid to help staff be comfortable when discussing the topic of a DNR wristband. 3.Promotes patient/family involvement and reminds the patient/family to alert staff if information is not correct. 4.By following a script, patients and families receive consistent message - which helps with retention of the information. Staff Education

Color-Coded Wristband Standardization in California Staff Script What is a color-coded wristband? Color-coded wristbands are used in hospitals to quickly communicate a certain health care status, condition or an “alert” that a patient may have. This is done so every staff member can provide the best care possible. What do the colors mean? There are three different color-coded wristbands that we are going to discuss because they are the colors being standardized across the state. ~ continued on next slide~

Color-Coded Wristband Standardization in California Staff Script RED means ALLERGY If a patient has an allergy to anything - food, medicine, dust, grass, pet hair, ANYTHING - tell us. It may not seem important to you but it could be very important in the care he/she receives. YELLOW means FALL RISK We want to prevent falls at all times. Nurses review patients all the time to determine if they need extra attention to prevent a fall. Sometimes patients become weakened during their illness or because they just had surgery. When a patient has a yellow- colored wristband, the entire staff is alerted that this person needs to be assisted when getting up or walking because he/she could fall. PURPLE means DNR or Do Not Resuscitate Some patients have expressed an end-of-life wish and we want to honor that request.

Color-Coded Wristband Standardization in California Policy and Procedure

Color-Coded Wristband Standardization in California Hospital Policy and Procedure A template policy and procedure has been provided. Make modifications to the policy and procedure so it fits your organization’s process and culture. Includes a “Patient Refusal to Participate in the Wristband Process” form.

Color-Coded Wristband Standardization in California Excerpt from Refusal Form The above named patient refuses to (check what applies)” □Wear color-coded wristbands. The benefits of the use of color-coded wristbands have been explained to me by a member of the health care team. I understand the risk and benefits of the use of color-coded wristbands, and despite this information, I do not give permission for the use of color-coded wristbands in my care. □Remove “social cause” wristbands. The risks of refusing to remove the “social cause” wristbands have been explained to me by a member of the health care team. I understand that by refusing to remove the social (community) cause wristbands could cause confusion in my care, and, despite this information, I do not give permission for the removal of the “social cause” wristbands. Reason provided (if any): ___________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ Date/TimeSignature/Relationship _____________________________________________________________ Date/TimeWitness Signature/Job Title

Color-Coded Wristband Standardization in California The Big Picture

Color-Coded Wristband Standardization in California Regional Efforts

Color-Coded Wristband Standardization in California Resources Questions? Debby Rogers, RN, MS Vice President, Quality and Emergency Services California Hospital Association 1215 K Street, Suite 800 Sacramento, CA (916) or Sue Bartlett, RN, MBA Vice President, Quality Initiatives Hospital Council of Northern and Central California 877 Ygnacio Valley Road, Suite 210 Walnut Creek, CA (925) or Copyright (c) 2007 California Hospital Association (CHA). Derived, with permission, from original works copyrighted by the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association (AzHHA). No reproduction permitted for commercial purposes. Reproduction with or without modification permitted for noncommercial purposes only; however, no modification of colors of bands and their corresponding conditions permitted.