National Patient Safety Goals®
Effective January 2025 for the Laboratory
Program
Goal 1
Improve the accuracy of patient identification.
NPSG.01.01.01
Use at least two patient identifiers when providing laboratory services.
--Rationale for NPSG.01.01.01--
Wrong-patient errors occur in virtually all stages of diagnosis and treatment. The intent for this goal is two-fold: first, to
reliably identify the individual as the person for whom the service or treatment is intended; second, to match the service or
treatment to that individual. Acceptable identifiers may be the individual’s name, an assigned identification number,
telephone number, or other person-specific identifier.
Element(s) of performance for NPSG.01.01.01
EP 1 Use at least two patient identifiers when administering blood or blood components; when collecting blood
samples and other specimens for clinical testing; and when providing other treatments or procedures. The
patient's room number or physical location is not used as an identifier.
Note: An example of "other procedures" includes bone marrow aspirates.
EP 2 Label containers used for blood and other specimens in the presence of the patient.
Goal 2
Improve the effectiveness of communication among caregivers.
NPSG.02.03.01
Report critical results of tests and diagnostic procedures on a timely basis.
--Rationale for NPSG.02.03.01--
Critical results of tests and diagnostic procedures fall significantly outside the normal range and may indicate a life-
threatening situation. The objective is to provide the responsible licensed caregiver these results within an established time
frame so that the patient can be promptly treated.
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Report Generated by GSSM © 2024 The Joint Commission
Wednesday, Oct 30 2024
National Patient Safety Goals®
Effective January 2025 for the Laboratory
Program
Element(s) of performance for NPSG.02.03.01
EP 1 Collaborate with organization leaders to develop and implement written procedures for managing the critical
results of tests and diagnostic procedures that address the following:
The definition of critical results of tests and diagnostic procedures
By whom and to whom critical results of tests and diagnostic procedures are reported
The acceptable length of time between the availability and reporting of critical results of tests and
diagnostic procedures
Ⓓ Documentation is required.
EP 3 Evaluate the timeliness of reporting the critical results of tests and diagnostic procedures.
Goal 7
Reduce the risk of health care–associated infections.
NPSG.07.01.01
Comply with either the current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) hand hygiene guidelines and/or the
current World Health Organization (WHO) hand hygiene guidelines.
--Rationale for NPSG.07.01.01--
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each year, millions of people acquire an infection while
receiving care, treatment, or services in a health care organization. Consequently, health care–associated infections (HAIs)
are a patient safety issue affecting all types of health care organizations. One of the most important ways to address HAIs
is by improving the hand hygiene of health care staff. Compliance with the World Health Organization (WHO) and/or
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) hand hygiene guidelines will reduce the transmission of infectious
agents by staff to patients, thereby decreasing the incidence of HAIs. To ensure compliance with this National Patient
Safety Goal, an organization should assess its compliance with the CDC and/or WHO guidelines through a comprehensive
program that provides a hand hygiene policy, fosters a culture of hand hygiene, monitors compliance, and provides
feedback.
Element(s) of performance for NPSG.07.01.01
EP 1 Implement a program that follows categories IA, IB, and IC of either the current Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) and/or the current World Health Organization (WHO) hand hygiene guidelines. (See
also IC.01.04.01, EP 1)
EP 2 Set goals for improving compliance with hand hygiene guidelines. (See also IC.03.01.01, EP 1)
EP 3 Improve compliance with hand hygiene guidelines based on established goals.
Page 2 of 2
Report Generated by GSSM © 2024 The Joint Commission
Wednesday, Oct 30 2024