[traumanurses] Re: John Doe patients

["Leiding, Lisa" <Lisa.Leiding@stvin.org>]

We just had an interesting issue arise. We changed computer systems and the new computer system wouldn't let us make Trauma "965" an option anymore. So what we have done is created a manual log that lists Trauma A - Z. Then as we find outwho the patient is we manually put it in the log next to Trauma G (if that was the letter assigned to the patient). We also put in MR # and Account #(unique to visit). The account # stays the same in the computer system regardless of who the patient becomes.

We did have an issue with a patient being identified as someone they weren't. Apparently the driver (who didn't want a DUI in his name) told the police he was the name of one of his passengers. Well we had the passenger and were told that his name was the driver's name. Needless to say the two patients were 30 miles apart and so the driver's "family" got sent here thinking we had him and the passenger's "family" got sent to the other facility. Family members were not allowed into see the patient at our facility - because when they arrived we still had the patient listed as Trauma Q and they were all stating "my brother / cousin / uncle / nephew etc... got in a wreck this afternoon."

THEN TO CONFUSE MATTERS WORSE - the paper the next morning lists the passenger as someone completely different (so a third name into the scenario) - and this was all made very complicated because these persons were all from across the boarder and the real "Mom's and Dad's" got delayed in coming here because we couldn't verify who these people really were.

Lisa McLaughlin
Santa Fe, NM 87508

-----Original Message-----
From: Beth Broering [mailto:babroering@mindspring.com]
Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2003 1:48 PM
To: traumanurses@listserve.com
Subject: [traumanurses] Re: Crossmatch for Trauma Patients

We require two specimens to be drawn at two different times with labels manually filled out with name DOB, MR #, physicians when there is no "historical control" available in the blood bank.  There is no charge to the patient for the second draw.  This policy has come forward in the last 6 months.

The exception to this rule is the trauma pt with emergent transfusion needs.  We have 4 units of "O"  in our ED and can use only 1 specimen on our highest level trauma activations when the need is emergent.....otherwise a second specimen is drawn. 

We are still working through the "Doe" to "Real Name" issue since the only other unique identifier for these patients is there MR#.  We are considering redoing our trauma packets/nameplates to include both the "Doe" name and their real name on the card once we find out.

Beth Broering, MSN, RN
Trauma CNS
Inova Fairfax Hospital
Falls Church VA 22101

Beth Broering

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