Barcode Technology in Healthcare

Leading health care organizations advocate the implementation of bar code technology in health care to address new health care initiatives. Bar codes represent a proven technology that can be used in health care, where little room for error or experimentation exists.

Identification

• A bar code represents encoded data in a graphical format containing numbers, letters, bars and spaces. Each item or patient can be assigned a unique bar code that is machine readable. Once scanned, the graphical representation is matched with data in a database, which identifies the item or patient in terms of name, history, pricing or other applicable information.

Function

• Health care organizations can apply bar codes in the handling of patient registration, patient safety, clinical care, patient tracking, test results identification, supply management, patient accounting and accessing records. In these applications, bar codes are affixed to patient wristbands, records, medicines, medical devices and supplies.

Significance

• With ambitious goals such as the national implementation of electronic medical records, the Health care Information and Management Systems Society recommends the aggressive use of bar coding technology in the health care environment. This way, organizations can simply scan a patient's wristband or identification card and access a lifetime of medical information.