The Northeast Indiana Patient Safety Coalition announced it has completed its first project aimed at enhancing patient safety at hospitals in the area. 

The coalition was established in November 2008 as a way for area hospitals to work together on patient safety initiatives. The first project was to standardize the colors of wristbands that hospitals use to alert hospital personnel of precautions for patients. The new universal system is now in place. 

The wristband colors are: 

• Red: Allergy alert
• Green: Latex allergy
• Yellow: Fall risk
• Purple: Do not resuscitate
• Pink: Limb alert
• White: Patient identification

 Prior to the completion of the initiative, hospitals in the area had different color systems and mechanisms to alert medical personnel of potential patient risks. 

“We are pleased with the progress that is being made. Patient safety is our top priority, and we appreciate the support and commitment we have received from coalition members,” said Dr. Jeffrey Brookes, Northeast Indiana Patient Safety Coalition member. “We are looking forward to additional opportunities and new innovations to improve patient safety and provide the best care possible to patients in our hospitals.” 

The Northeast Indiana Patient Safety Coalition members are: 

• Adams Memorial Hospital
• Bluffton Regional Medical Center
• Cameron Memorial Community Hospital
• DeKalb Memorial Hospital
• Dukes Memorial Hospital
• Dupont Hospital
• Fort Wayne Medical Education
• Fort Wayne VA Medical Center
• Jay County Hospital
• Kosciusko Community Hospital
• Lutheran Hospital
• The Orthopaedic Hospital of Lutheran Health Network
• Parkview Hospital/Parkview North Hospital
• Parkview Huntington Hospital
• Parkview LaGrange Hospital
• Parkview Noble Hospital
• Parkview Ortho Hospital
• Parkview Whitley Hospital
• Rehabilitation Hospital of Fort Wayne
• St. Joseph Hospital
• Select Specialty Hospital of Fort Wayne
• Wabash County Hospital

 The efforts by the coalition are in alignment with the recommendations by the Indiana Patient Safety Center and the Indiana Hospital Association for statewide wristband color standardization. The coalition is the fifth such entity to be created in Indiana. It meets every other month.