Wilford Hall Medical Center receives DoD Patient Safety Award Published Aug. 25, 2006 By Sue Campbell 59th Medical Wing Public Affairs LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AETCNS) -- Wilford Hall Medical Center's 59th Medical Wing Patient Safety Office here was selected for a Department of Defense Patient Safety Award in the policy and procedure category. The annual DoD Patient Safety Awards recognize leadership and innovation in quality, safety and commitment to patient care by military treatment facilities. The awards are designed to reward successful patient safety efforts, particularly in the development of a culture of safety, inspiring organizations to increase their patient safety efforts and communicating successful programs and strategies throughout the Military Health System. The procedure which garnered the award is called the Rapid Identification and Registration Process for Trauma Patients. The process, implemented in April 2005, ensures all medical and trauma patients with life threatening conditions receive a special registration band and stamp plate when they arrive at WHMC's emergency department. The registration band, which is placed on the patient's leg and not removed until formal discharge, includes a registration number and a name for the patient. "The two unique patient identifiers on the band are used to verify the patient against all orders given prior to the patient's official admission," said Cynthia Lightner, Wilford Hall's Patient Safety Program manager. The identifiers help eliminate confusion, miscommunication, delay or interruption of patient care. Once the patient can be formally identified and admitted to the hospital using their legal name, they are given an admission bracelet. The bracelet and leg band have the same unique patient identifying number. "This policy was developed by a multidisciplinary team of personnel from various hospital units," said Col. (Dr.) Ed Sabanegh, chief of medical staff. "They analyzed the existing process, identified areas in the process that were vulnerable for errors, and collectively determined corrective actions for wing-wide deployment. This was an outstanding team effort." The award will be presented to the Patient Safety Office staff during the 2006 TRICARE Conference in late-January.