A wide range of industries have been using barcode systems for various purposes. Application of barcodes in healthcare industry has many advantages. Medication errors can be reduced by barcodes use in hospitals.
Medication errors arise due to faults of individual healthcare professional. However, it represents the failure of the medication system. Drug administration includes about one third of these medication errors. Hence it is important to apply barcode systems at hospitals. A new barcode label rule was set in 2002 by FDA which enhances the requirement of barcodes on certain drug and biological product labels. Barcode scanning equipment similar to that used in supermarkets can be used in hospitals to ensure provision of right drug in right dose and route of administration in a right time for a right patient.
A barcoded identification card or wristband is given to the patient when he visits a hospital. A barcode printer is used to label the code on the identification card or band. All the information regarding the condition, medication, compliance on allergies, age and other details are known by the barcoded identification card. Scanners are used by nurses to scan the information of the patient and determine the medication to be given. Proper matching of the patient identification number and other details are to be checked during this process. Occurrence of any mismatch can lead to errors. So a compliant should be given if there are any mismatches before giving medication. This reduces further errors and unwanted consequences.
Drug labeling is another application of barcodes in healthcare industry. Active ingredients, uses, dosage, warnings, and directions of a medicine can be known by the drug barcode labels. Healthcare professionals have to be involved in checking the drug warnings and label changes electronically. Barcode printers and barcode scanners are to be used in hospitals for creating drug labels and reading them. Symbol barcode is one of the models of which provide the barcodes for various organizations. Error tracking can be done easily by application of barcode systems in hospitals and other healthcare agencies. People should be educated about the significance of the barcode identification cards that are given to them.
Medication errors arise due to faults of individual healthcare professional. However, it represents the failure of the medication system. Drug administration includes about one third of these medication errors. Hence it is important to apply barcode systems at hospitals. A new barcode label rule was set in 2002 by FDA which enhances the requirement of barcodes on certain drug and biological product labels. Barcode scanning equipment similar to that used in supermarkets can be used in hospitals to ensure provision of right drug in right dose and route of administration in a right time for a right patient.
A barcoded identification card or wristband is given to the patient when he visits a hospital. A barcode printer is used to label the code on the identification card or band. All the information regarding the condition, medication, compliance on allergies, age and other details are known by the barcoded identification card. Scanners are used by nurses to scan the information of the patient and determine the medication to be given. Proper matching of the patient identification number and other details are to be checked during this process. Occurrence of any mismatch can lead to errors. So a compliant should be given if there are any mismatches before giving medication. This reduces further errors and unwanted consequences.
Drug labeling is another application of barcodes in healthcare industry. Active ingredients, uses, dosage, warnings, and directions of a medicine can be known by the drug barcode labels. Healthcare professionals have to be involved in checking the drug warnings and label changes electronically. Barcode printers and barcode scanners are to be used in hospitals for creating drug labels and reading them. Symbol barcode is one of the models of which provide the barcodes for various organizations. Error tracking can be done easily by application of barcode systems in hospitals and other healthcare agencies. People should be educated about the significance of the barcode identification cards that are given to them.
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