One of the most critical areas within the National Patient Safety Goals (NPSGs) likely to evolve in the coming years is accurate patient identification through biometric technologies such as facial recognition, iris scanning, and fingerprint authentication. These innovations offer a highly secure method for confirming both clinician and patient identity, which can significantly reduce the risk of medication errors and patient harm (Ambula Healthcare, n.d.; The Joint Commission, 2024).

As a respiratory therapist, I have experience using the Pyxis medication dispensing system, which requires authentication through badge scanning and fingerprint recognition to retrieve medications like albuterol. However, when administering these medications, the current process typically involves scanning the patient’s identification wristband and the medication barcode. While effective in theory, this system can be circumvented, especially during high-stress or understaffed shifts, where clinicians may manually override the barcode scanning process and note that the “barcode reader was unavailable.”

To improve safety and accountability, integrating biometric fingerprint scanners for patients at the bedside could further ensure accurate patient verification, especially for high-risk medications. This would eliminate ambiguity in patient identification, particularly in busy hospital environments. Additionally, requiring a second healthcare professional to witness medication administration when barcode scanning fails would align with high-reliability practices and help prevent wrong-patient or wrong-time errors (Institute for Safe Medication Practices [ISMP], 2023).

As professionals, we must shift from viewing these extra steps as burdensome to recognizing them as critical safeguards. The integration of biometric verification for both providers and patients would reinforce a culture of safety and support the Joint Commission’s emphasis on technology-driven solutions for reducing preventable harm.

References

Ambula Healthcare. (n.d.). Top National Patient Safety Goals to Follow in 2024. Retrieved March 29, 2025, from https://www.ambula.io/importance-of-national-patient-safety-goals/

Institute for Safe Medication Practices. (2023). Best practices for medication safety. https://www.ismp.org/guidelines/best-practices-medication-safety

The Joint Commission. (2024). National Patient Safety Goals. https://www.jointcommission.org/standards/national-patient-safety-goals/