When a patient checks in to a hospital or a non-acute care facility, their personal and medical data needs to be recorded. Each patient has an EMR (Electronic Medical Record), which needs to be updated each time a patient needs care. Implementing a scannable barcode system enables caregivers the ability to quickly scan a ID band or label to access a patient’s information prior to every procedure or test. Patient records continue to grow each time a patient visits, and records must be documented accurately to ensure patients and their private information are protected.
Hospitals and non-acute care facilities are busy environments, and scanning labels and ID bands needs to be a seamless part of the staff’s workflow to ensure efficiency and patient safety. Unfortunately, according to a recent PDC survey, barcode scanning errors can be common and a big disruptor.
Below we’ll explore a few reasons why your labels or ID bands might not be scanning properly, and what caregivers can do moving forward to avoid these errors.
1. Use Thermal Print Technology Throughout Your Hospital
Incorporating thermal print technology for ID bands and labels allows caregivers to quickly and reliably print crisp patient information and barcodes without the risk of fading over time or ink smudging. This makes for easier scanning, which prevents errors.
2. Use Labels and ID Bands Designed For Healthcare Environments
Healthcare environments can have many harsh factors, including water, sanitizers, alcohol and other liquids, that can damage a barcoded medical label or ID band. By choosing high-quality ID bands and labels designed for healthcare, you’re choosing consumables that are likely resistant to liquids, protecting the barcodes and patient data printed on them.
3. Choose High-Quality Barcode Scanners Made For Healthcare
Using high-tech scanners designed for healthcare makes life easier for caregivers. Code scanners, for example, have the capacity to scan faded or damaged barcodes, scan multiple types of barcodes, and can scan multiple barcodes printed closely together, which is common in healthcare. This allows caregivers to efficiently scan all labels in their facility without a disruption to their workflow.
4. Don’t Forget About the Adhesive!
It may seem insignificant, but the adhesive on your medical labels can make or break your workflow efficiency. Labels can come with removable, permanent or even specially-formulated adhesives based on their intended use. When the wrong adhesive is used or caregivers are using adhesives that aren’t designed for healthcare, it can lead to a label moving out of place, creasing, or completely falling off what it is meant to identify. This makes scanning difficult or even impossible.
Is your staff experiencing any of these barcode scanning issues? Then your facility may be due for an upgrade with PDC’s medical labels & ID bands. PDC has over 60 years of experience with healthcare patient ID and medication labeling solutions, making us the perfect partner for a seamless change. We’re constantly adapting our offering to meet the needs of our customers and their systems. Contact us to connect with a PDC expert.
Source: PDC, by Brady
