ALLERGY BANDS

BANDS

The Red Allergy Bands will be implemented for Shands at UF inpatients (with known allergies), effective July 2, 2001:

1. All inpatient areas, Admissions, OR, and ED have agreed to utilize red patient bands for any patients with known allergies to drugs, food, latex, and/or contrast media.

2. Patients will have ONE band only, either a red one if there are known allergies, or a different color band if there are no known allergies. The red band can be addressographed and will be used as the patient ID band.

3. Patients who are not sure about their allergy status will NOT be given a red band, until a physician can clarify if there is a true allergy.

4. The red allergy band is an extra “alert” that the patient has known allergies. The specific allergies are NOT to be written on the band itself. That information should be contained in the chart, on the MAR, and in SMS, as below.

ADMISSION PROCESS FOR IDENTIFICATION OF ALLERGIES:

1. All admission orders should include up-to-date information on patient allergies.

2. Unit clerk will enter up-to-date allergy information into SMS, and write allergy information on blue

back chart sticker and admission paperwork

· NKA (No Known Allergies) must be entered for patients who do not have identified allergies.

· Up-to-date allergy information is to be on each MAR (and on other specific documentation forms, depending on unit).

3. Admitting RN verifies with unit clerk that allergies are correct and on chart and admission

paperwork. Admitting RN assures that patient has a red allergy band, if appropriate.

· Any discrepancy between MD orders and patient/family report is resolved by admitting RN

4. Night shift RN verifies up-to-date allergy information is correct on documentation paperwork and in computer system with 24-hour chart check.

5. New drug allergies identified by adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are entered by Pharmacy into SMS. If a new drug allergy is identified by the physician and an ADR was not completed, the pharmacist should be notified so that the allergy information can be updated.

6. If the new allergy is not drug related, the physician should write the allergy in the orders and the unit clerk will update the allergy information as in #2.

Submitted by Kathy Gamble, ARNP, MN, Coordinated Care Manager

Policy verified 6/12/2002