Sterile Labels Meet New JCAHO National Patient Safety Goals

A line of sterile labels for the OR has been introduced by Medline. The Medline Sterile Labels meet the new Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organization’s (JCAHO) National Patient Safety Goals calling for sterile labeling in the OR.
The 2006 Patient Safety Goals now call for labeling all “medications, medication containers (e.g. syringes, medicine cups or basins) or other solutions on and off the sterile field in perioperative and other procedural settings.” Sterile Labels have an advanced adhesive that allows them to remain sticky following sterilization and/or if the labels get wet. Their special coating prevents the ink from smearing when labels get wet and allows the user to write on the labels.
They include preprinted and blank labels, and all include a line for the name and strength of the medication, the date of the procedure and initials of the person preparing the labels (also a JCAHO requirement). The Sterile Labels are part of the new OR Necessities line of essential OR products.