One of the biggest changes seen in the healthcare field is the introduction of barcodes in almost every application.
Typically seen on a patient’s wristband, hospitals now have barcodes on almost everything, some of which you may have never heard of.
Here are 6 Ways to Use Barcodes in a Hospital:
Patient Wristbands
o Upon arriving at a hospital as a patient, you are given a wristband with your personal information on it. This wristband has a barcode printed on it and is useful to track a patient during their stay.
Personal Items Bag
o Before slipping into your flattering hospital gown, you are given a bag to put your personal belongings in. These bags each have a barcode and are scanned to keep track of your personal items, should you move rooms or wish to collect it at the end of your stay.
Medication
o Medicine is highly controlled these days and making sure the correct dosage is administered to the correct patient is crucial in getting the right care and reducing errors. All medicine dispensed in a hospital has a barcode associated with it. You will find caregivers scanning both the patient’s wristband and the medicine container itself, prior to administering the dosage to ensure everything is correct.
Healthcare Provider Badges
o All hospital staff are required to display a personal ID badge which gives them access to a number of restricted areas and also identifies them. In many cases, hospital personnel are required to scan their badge in order to dispense medicine, allowing the hospital to track the chain of custody for these items.
Asset Tracking
o The amount of equipment used in hospitals continues to grow every year. With all of this new equipment, keeping tabs on it would be extremely difficult, if not for a barcoded tracking system. Having each item labeled and identified in the software system is crucial for keeping machines well-maintained and available when they are needed most.
Pre/Post Operation
o If you have any sort of surgery, the most important thing is making sure the correct procedure is being performed on you. Sounds obvious, but the scary thing is that accidents do – and have – happened. Using a barcode on a patient’s wristband is a great way to double check you have the correct person undergoing the correct operation. Many hospitals now have a complete system of check and balances in place to prevent these accidents from occurring.
*Don’t forget, behind every barcode, you need a good barcode scanner. Learn more about healthcare barcode scanners here.
Hospitals are an ever-changing, complicated system of organized chaos. The implementation of barcodes and barcode scanners has given these dynamic environments a great tool to help keep things in order.
Looking for more information on healthcare barcodes or scanners? Contact Us.
About the Author:
Brandon is a member of L-Tron’s Sales Team specializing in the webstore and inside sales rep duties. When he is not at work, you can find Brandon skiing, traveling or playing his guitar. You can reach Brandon at 800-830-9523, x116 or email Brandon.Morabito@L-Tron.com.