What type of site marking is required by JCAHO?
JCAHO requires that site marking must be “consistent and unambiguous.” Specifically, there is the mandate for indelible ink, typically sterile, used to mark extremely close to the operative site. Stickers are not allowed as a sole means of site marking. Importantly, JCAHO requires that site marking within an institution be performed in a consistent fashion from one physician to the other. That is to say, this unambiguous mark applied to the skin by one physician should be the same mark applied by another physician. “The method of marking and type of mark should be consistent throughout the organization.” JCAHO 2003, Universal Protocol for Preventing Wrong Site, Wrong Procedure, Wrong Person Surgery. “… the mark must be unambiguous and the process should be consistent throughout the organization.” JCAHO, January 3, 2005, Frequently Asked Questions About the Universal Protocol for Preventing Wrong Site, Wrong Procedure, Wrong Person Surgery. “… common sense would dictate that if a ma