Patient Identification

Implementation Date: 2/25/2010

Date of Last Revision: 9/30/2021

Next Review Due: 9/30/2023

 

Reviewed by VTH Administrative Team: 9/30/2021

Reviewed by VTH Board: 2/25/2010

 

Reviewed by Legal Counsel: N/A

Reviewed by Biosecurity Subcommittee: N/A

Subject to modification by the VTH Director without approval.

Policy

All patients of the VTH shall wear a species appropriate identification tag or collar which shall be placed on the animal at the time of admission by the service seeing the patient.

The identification of patients shall be verified prior to performing procedures, administering medications, or otherwise treating hospital patients. 

Guidelines

To reduce the risk of treating or performing an invasive procedure on the wrong patient, all hospital patients shall wear an ID tag or collar containing their medical record number, name and the client’s name. IDs shall be placed on the patient by the appropriate service when admitted and when feasible by the client presenting the patient.

To ensure that the treatment or procedure is being performed on the correct patient, identification of the patient will be verified by the clinician, technician, or student prior to performance of procedure.

Exceptions will be made for Zoo Companion Animal species that cannot be tagged and/or already have recognizable identification (e.g., such as ear tags on cattle). 

Procedure (if applicable)

The person taking in the patient will affix a patient sticker to an identi-band collar and secure the identi-band around the patient’s neck. The location where the patient is housed: cage, run or stall, should also be identified with a patient label affixed to a card and placed in the card holder.

Definitions (if applicable)

Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH): The collective clinical services of the Large Animal Clinic, Midwest Equine, the Small Animal Clinic, and the Veterinary Medicine South Clinic.