Faculty, Staff and Student Publications
Language
English
Publication Date
2-1-2026
Journal
JAMIA Open
DOI
10.1093/jamiaopen/ooaf160
PMID
41502534
PMCID
PMC12772641
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
1-6-2026
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Author MSS
Abstract
Objectives: To describe the process of updating the Patient Identification Safety Assurance Factors for EHR Resilience (SAFER) Guide and to review new practices and refinements to the Guide.
Materials and methods: We conducted a review of literature on the topic of patient identification in healthcare settings, focusing on papers published after 2016. Titles and abstracts were screened by a team of reviewers, and the full text of retained articles was used to inform the revision.
Results: The updated SAFER Guide strengthens recommendations for displaying patient photographs and using electronic patient identification, including barcoding and radiofrequency identification on patient wristbands. The Guide also recommends the use of biometric identification at registration and point of care. Finally, the updated Guide removes a recommendation to restrict the number of concurrently open patient records permitted in the electronic health record.
Discussion: The revised SAFER Guide includes new recommendations aimed at supporting accurate patient identification at registration, order placement, and the point of care.
Conclusion: The updated Patient Identification SAFER Guide provides evidence-based national recommendations to help reduce patient misidentification.
Keywords
electronic health records, patient identification systems, patient safety, biometric identification, wrong-patient error
Published Open-Access
yes
Recommended Citation
Weatherford, Emma; Grauer, Anne; Sirochinsky, Carina; et al., "Developing Updated and New Guidance to Promote Reliable Patient Identification" (2026). Faculty, Staff and Student Publications. 784.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/uthshis_docs/784