Usage Areas/Functions |
Concerns/Problems
|
Tag/Label Solutions
|
Contact Individual(s)
|
Patient Registration/Identification
Hospitals need a foolproof system of identifying
patients and associating specimen samples, test results, patient
files, special orders, medicine deliveries, food deliveries, etc.
|
- Files, specimens, orders improperly labeled,
routed - making it difficult to associate with proper patient.
- Inaccurate information can cause delays –
and possibly patient harm .
|
- Tag or label wristband systems to identify patients.
- Bar coded labels that identify patient which
are attached to all specimens, orders, files, test results, etc.
|
- Director of Admitting
- Director of Ambulatory Care
- Emergency Room Supervisor
|
Supply Functions
Adequate inventories of essential items must be
distributed to, maintained on, and accounted for on the floors at
all times. Patients need to be charged for supplies as they are
used.
|
- Lost revenue because patients are not charged
properly, or because records of supplies on hand are not accurately
kept.
- Inadequate inventory control.
|
- Require vendors to barcode pallets, cartons,
and individual items.
- Bar code storage bin locations.
- Piggy back labels to charge items to individual
patients
|
- Central Supply Manager
- Materials Manager
- OR Supervisor
|
In-House Pharmacy
The in-house pharmacy receives orders for medications,
and then prepares, labels, distributes, and charges patients for
medications.
|
- Labeling errors.
- Medications delivered to wrong patient.
- Charging errors.
- Compliance with government medication tracking
regulations.
|
- Tag or label wristband systems to identify patients
- Bar coded labels to attach to medication orders,
medication vials, patient records for billing purposes
- Pharmacy control software systems
|
- Director of Pharmacy
- MIS director
|
Laboratory
The laboratory receives and analyzes specimens,
documents the results, and charges the patient for the lab work.
In some cases, laboratory personnel may draw the specimens as well.
|
- Specimens mislabeled or illegible.
- Label material inadequate to stand up to testing
conditions.
- Charging errors.
|
- Bar code sample tracking system
- Test tube/specimen container labels
- Bar code wristband system
- Laboratory software systems
|
- Lab Administrator
- MIS Director (LIS Director)
|
Capital Asset Control
Costly capital assets need to be accounted for
and maintained within their designated areas.
|
- Loss of control or disappearance of costly capital
assets.
- Finding a permanent capital asset tag that adheres
to a variety of surfaces over the life of the equipment.
- The ability to match the asset to the area responsible
for it..
|
- Bar coded fixed asset tags/labels
- Asset tags/labels with tamper resistant security
features
- Identifying surface materials to which asset
tags will be attached so that the proper permanent adhesive
can be used
|
- Controller
- Financial Manager
- Treasurer
- Materials Manager
|
Safety Control
Issue and maintain safety equipment, fire extinguishers;
provide for adequate warning signage; establish equipment lock out/tag
out procedures; provide for the storage, control, and disposal of
hazardous materials.
|
- Storage of safety equipment in convenient and
easily accessible locations.
- Maintenance of safety equipment to ensure it
is in good working order.
- Proper control, use, and disposal of hazardous
material.
|
- Maintenance record tags
- Lock out warning tags
- Hazmet labeling (hazardous material)
|
- Materials Manager
- Maintenance Manger
- Director of Safety and Security
|
Miscellaneous
Other possible tag and label uses include employee
ID badges, dietary stores, and the library.
|
- Hospital security and employee accountability
for assigned materials and books.
- Proper patient meal routing.
|
- Bar coded library label system
- Bar coded employee ID label system
- Bar coded wrist bands
- Employee parking permit label/tag
|
- Librarian
- Food Service Director
- Personnel Manager
- Director of Safety and Security
|
