How does Goal 1 propose to improve patient identification?

Goal 1 of the National Patient Safety Goals focuses on improving patient identification to ensure that patients receive the correct treatments and medications while avoiding errors that could arise from misidentification. The use of at least two patient identifiers is a fundamental practice outlined in this goal. This approach emphasizes that healthcare providers should not rely solely on a single identifier, such as the patient's name, but instead use a combination of identifiers, like a patient’s name and date of birth or medical record number. This dual verification process significantly reduces the chances of errors associated with treatment or administration of medications to the wrong patient.

The importance of using multiple identifiers is grounded in the understanding that human and system errors can occur, and by having two distinct identifiers, healthcare providers can better confirm that they have the correct patient. This practice is especially crucial in environments such as hospitals, where many patients can have similar names, and where multiple healthcare staff members may interact with a patient over time.