Quality & Patient Safety

NC hospital uses temporary tattoos for surgery

Patient Safety Monitor Alert, July 12, 2005

Want to receive articles like this one in your inbox? Subscribe to Patient Safety Monitor Alert!

Surgical patients at WakeMed Hospital in Raleigh, NC, receive temporary tattoos so medical staff know on which limb to operate, according to a news report from WRAL-TV.

The tattooing process is one of several steps taken by hospital staff to prevent errors in the operative setting. The facility also labels all medications during surgeries. Medication labeling is one of the new requirements in the JCAHO's 2006 National Patient Safety Goals.

The team also makes a strong effort to reconcile all of a patient's medications before surgeries, according to the report.

To read a transcript of the WRAL-TV report, click here.



Want to receive articles like this one in your inbox? Subscribe to Patient Safety Monitor Alert!

    Patient Safety Monitor
  • Patient Safety Monitor

    As part of your Patient Safety Monitor membership, you'll receive Briefings on Patient Safety. In this 12-page monthly...

  • Patient Safety Monitor Alert

    This e-mail newsletter provides healthcare professionals with the latest patient safety news, while offering useful...

  • Patient Safety Quality Monthly

    Ken Rohde, Senior Consultant for The Greeley Company with over 25 years of experience in quality management. His roles in...

  • Occurrence Reporting:

    Take advantage of the information occurrence reports provide and make sustainable enhancements at your facility. Expert...

Most Popular

Related Articles