Precision Dynamics Corporation Launches New Ident-Alert(R) Color Coded Snaps For Identifying Special Risk Patient Conditions

Precision Dynamics Corporation (PDC), the global leader in healthcare identification solutions, announced today the release of new Ident-Alert® Color Coded Snaps for identifying special risk patient conditions. The snaps apply easily and securely to wristbands, allowing caregivers to classify multiple patient conditions, including Allergy, Fall Risk, DNR (Do Not Resuscitate), No Latex, and Limb Alert. The product helps ensure positive patient identification, while preventing hospital errors for maximum patient safety and quality care.


Designed with both the patient and caregiver in mind, Ident-Alert® Color Coded Snaps provide maximum security, convenience, and comfort. Large, easy-to-read, color coded indicators directly alert hospital staff to multiple patient needs -- all on one snap closure wristband. The easy-to-apply locking SecurSnap® closure is a PDC patented safety feature that prevents the removal of the wristband and risk of transfer to another patient. While rigorously tested for strength and resilience, the material is also soft and pliable for maximum patient comfort.


The product expands Precision Dynamics' comprehensive line of color coded alert indicators, which include: Alert Bands®, Ident-Alert® Color Coded Snaps, and Ident-Alert® Wristband Companion Labels. Eight different styles/sizes of Alert Bands® pre-printed with the standardized alerts and colors are offered to meet the needs of virtually any hospital.


As part of PDC's full line of alert indicators, Ident-Alert® Color Coded Snaps support the color coded alert standardization initiatives that have been adopted by the majority of state hospital associations in the United States. It also meets The Joint Commission's number one patient safety goal to improve the accuracy of patient identifiers.


Color coded wristband alert standardization gained national attention in 2005 as the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority issued a patient safety advisory after a near fatal incident in a Pennsylvania hospital caused by the confusion of a color coded wristband. Lack of consistency in color coding alerts has presented problems when patients are transferred among facilities or cared for by clinicians who work at multiple hospitals.


The American Hospital Association also issued a Quality Advisory in September 2008 encouraging hospitals that are already using color coded alert wristbands to adopt standard colors for the three most common condition alerts being red for Allergy Alert, yellow for Fall Risk, and Purple for Do Not Resuscitate. The advisory cited standardization as a common sense approach to reduce confusion among color coding variations at different hospitals.


"The adoption of standardized alert color coding and protocols is a simple, yet effective, patient safety measure to avoid medical errors that can lead to devastating effects," said Kim Canchola, PDC Product Manager. "Since individual states have adopted alert standards to better protect patients, PDC has partnered with hospitals in every state to design solutions to help solve their current alert standardization needs. These include educational and training materials, as well as hospital staff in-service sessions to help hospitals meet their mission to deliver positive identification and positive outcomes."