Diana is one of the phlebotomists in an outpatient blood-drawing center. It has been a very busy day. It is now 6pm and only one patient remains. Diana has a requisition for a Mrs. Jane Smith for a CBC and glucose. Diana is very tired and must leave to pick up her child at the child-care facility. The patient is an elderly woman who is sitting in the waiting room reading a magazine. Diana tells the woman, "Oh, you must be Mrs. Smith, my last patient." Diana then leads the woman to a blood-drawing chair. The patient is a difficult draw and requires two attempts to obtain the blood sample. Five minutes later, a younger woman comes into the blood drawing center and tells the receptionist she is Mrs. Jane Smith.

Questions: Be specific with your answers and write complete sentences.

1. What errors did Diana commit?

2. How should patient identification be established?

3. What considerations in working with geriatric patients need to be considered?

4. What else could become a problem in this situation?