#KeepCodingSimple

How Barcodes Are Utilized in Healthcare

Written by Cecilia Barcenas | May 10, 2021 3:16:00 PM

Patient safety is a number one concern in healthcare. One of many identifiable items that helps increase safety for patients everywhere is barcodes. For an inside look at how barcodes are utilized in healthcare, continue reading the material below.

Provides Identification

Whether you are looking at the products that healthcare works use or patients in general, you can see how the industry uses barcodes for identification. Not only does it help keep products and items to ensure proper sanitation and maintain inventory, but it helps them identify what is what in the supply area. Barcodes also are put on every single patient wristband so that anybody who needs access to their medication information can quickly scan the barcode and access it.

It is easy to say that things would not move as smoothly and efficiently without barcodes in the healthcare system. This also helps with security, as you can only gain access to medical information when you have the correct barcode.

Medication Management

Medical management is another way that the healthcare industry uses barcodes. With each medication comes barcodes to identify the drug. Not only does this identification include the name of the medication, but the dosage, manufacturer, and expiration date. Without this information, it would be much harder for nurses and other medical professionals to attain this information and adequately provide care for their patients. Barcodes make for an easy way to transfer and communicate this vital information.  

Specimen Collection

While, yes, this is another form of identification, it is another way that the healthcare industry utilizes barcodes. To keep all the specimens in order and aligned with the right patient, barcodes are used. This helps prevent a mix-up from occurring or giving the wrong diagnosis to a patient. Barcode labels come in so many shapes in sizes and can withstand so many conditions that they can adhere to several types of specimen containers.

Looking at how barcodes are utilized in healthcare, you can see how vital a role they play. Without them, it would cause a significant lack of organization and order that would be damaging to patients. It is safe to say that without barcodes, the healthcare system would suffer.

If you are looking to better your healthcare system's barcode element, consider looking at our coding and marking printers today. All our inventory helps #Keepcodingsimple, while also providing you with high-quality barcodes.