Barcode Patient Identification System

Many new technologies have come forth to assist in the safety of patients. We have managed to Implement e-scribing, CPOE for orders, barcode system for medications and now Barcodes for Patient ID Bracelets. There are many companies currently providing this software where clinicians can be certain that they are treating the correct patient . One of them being Bio-Optronics, Inc.

Bio-Optronics has serviced the medical community since 1985 and are moving forward with the growth of Health IT. They have provided an intriguing software that clinicians can use to identify a patient with just a quick scan of their hospital ID bracelet. The system includes a color photo of the patient once their ID is scanned to further verify that clinicians have the right patient. it also offers mommy and baby bracelets that include both the photo of mommy and baby to ensure that the child is linked to the right mom. By scanning a patients barcode the patients medication regimen, allergies, demographics and specimens come up on the screen. It is one the many effective ways to provide quality patient care and prevent adverse drug effects. Bio-Optronics is currently serving over 110 Veteran Administration Hospitals.

A press release by the Agency for Healthcare research and Quality in 2010 mentioned a study conducted of an Electronic Medication Administration Record System in a Woman's Hospital in Boston. The hospital had 6,723 medication administrations pre-implementation and 7,318 post-implementation. They recorded a 41 percent reduction in non-timing administration errors and 51 percent reductions in potential adverse drug events.

Many patients hold high expectations of their care providers. They expect their doctors and nurses to always remember their face, their visits, and every conversation. Care providers need assistance in providing quality care and barcode patient ID has proved to be one of many.

References

1. 2013. seen at: http://www.bio-optronics.com/Products/Biopoint/PatientIdentificationSystem.aspx#LiveTabsContent52411-lt

2. Rockville, MD. (May 2010.)AHRQ Study Shows Using Bar-Code Technology with eMAR Reduces Medication Administration and Transcription Errors.

  Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, see at: http://www.ahrq.gov/news/newsroom/press-releases/2010/emar.html