Dateline DFCI
Activities spotlight patient-safety efforts in research and care
New ID bracelets will help better verify patients' information.
The safety of Dana-Farber patients in clinical research and care was spotlighted this winter with two honors and the establishment of a new policy aimed at better verifying patients' information during their visits.
In November, a pair of Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (DF/HCC) units earned awards of excellence from the Health Improvement Institute for their efforts to protect volunteers taking part in clinical trials to test the safety and effectiveness of new treatments. They were among six recipients of the first-ever honors presented by the Maryland-based institute, which seeks to raise the quality and productivity of American health care.
A team led by Steven Joffe, MD, MPH, of Dana-Farber was recognized for innovation in developing a questionnaire to measure how well patients understand the purpose and requirements of research studies in which they are enrolled. Representatives from hospitals around the world have contacted Joffe to learn more about this new tool for addressing informed-consent issues.
"It's great to be recognized for the quality-assurance work we do."
— Jane Russell
Secondly, the cancer center's Quality Assurance Office for Clinical Trials garnered a best-practice award for its systems to safeguard patients who volunteer for clinical research. "It's great to be recognized for the work we do," says Jane Russell, whose office oversees various safety-related aspects of this research — including patient registration and eligibility checking, database design, and auditing.
Peter Goldschmidt, MD, DrPH, president and founder of the Health Improvement Institute, notes, "There is excellent and ethical research being done throughout the United States, and these new awards celebrate the individuals and organizations who do it best."
Barbara Bierer, MD
Under Dana-Farber's new patient identification policy that took effect in February, all adult and pediatric patients must now wear ID bracelets during their visits for any type of appointment. These bands of recyclable paper enable staff to check patients' names, DFCI hospital number, and date of birth against their medical records and to ensure correct patient identification for all chemotherapy infusions, medications, tests, and blood draws. Until now, many patients used their plastic DFCI registration cards for most appointments and were required to wear an ID bracelet only when receiving blood products or chemotherapy.
This is the first of several efforts under way to further protect Dana-Farber patients and families, notes Barbara Bierer, MD, who heads the Institute's new Center for Patient Safety.
"Patient identification is a major concern nationally," she says. "Our work to ensure that the right patient receives the right procedure and lab tests — strengthened by this new policy — is echoed by a new 2003 mandate from our accrediting body, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. We welcome the commission's goals to enhance patient safety around the country."
