NC hospital uses temporary tattoos for surgery
Patient Safety Monitor Alert
July 12, 2005
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.
