Hospitals asked to consider standardized colors for alert wristbands

The AHA is asking all hospitals to consider using three standardized colors for alert wristbands to improve patient safety. All hospitals are invited to attend one of two AHA informational calls on the topic scheduled for Sept. 19 and 23. In a Sept. 4 advisory, AHA said, “Standardizing the colors that hospitals use to alert staff to certain patient risks is a common-sense approach to improving patient safety. Many physicians and nurses work in multiple hospitals within their communities and even across state lines. In states that have adopted the consensus wristband colors, caregivers have welcomed the standardization and report reduced confusion caused by the numerous previous variations.” The AHA Quality Center also offers information on implementing standardized colored wristbands, including existing toolkits and resources developed by state hospital associations.