The MHA Board of Directors voted to approve a statewide standard for patient wristband colors. (See a July 27 article for the history of the wristband project.)

The MHA Board approved the following motion:

The Minnesota Hospital Association recommends that all hospitals work toward reducing reliance on and eventually eliminating the use of color wrist bands by collectively developing more effective ways to communicate emergency information and patient risks. In the interim, if an organization uses colored wristbands to communicate patient information or risks, the following colors should be used to indicate the respective alert:

- Red: allergy
- Yellow: fall risk
- Purple: DNR
- Pink: restricted extremity
- Green: latex

Task force members are assisting with development of a tool kit to help members implement this standard, particularly recommendations on processes and practices to work toward elimination of reliance on wristbands. Task force members include Fairview Health Services, Grand Itasca Clinic and Hospital, Mayo Clinic Rochester, North Memorial Medical Center, Regions Hospital, St. Cloud Hospital, and St. Joseph's Medical Center.

For more information, contact Tania Daniels, MHA vice president of patient safety, at (651) 603-3517. MHA welcomes feedback from members.