2-D Barcodes Can Automatically Update Electronics Health Records (EHRs)
Cook Children’s, Microsoft, Athenahealth, and drug makers Merck and Sanofi Pasteur develop system that allows smartphones to scan vaccine label information into e-health records.
A new 2-D barcode application developed through collaboration between Cook Children’s Health Care System, e-health record vendor Athenahealth, Microsoft, and two large drug makers can help clinicians and parents of pediatric patients to more easily manage vaccination information.
The system developed by Children’s Health Care System, AthenaHealth, Microsoft, and vaccine makers Sanofi Pasteur and Merck enables the nation’s first use of the 2-D barcodes on vaccines, allowing information about the drug to be automatically added to patients’ personal EHRs using 2D barcode scanners or smartphones.
The use of 2-D barcodes on vaccines is allowed under a recently published guidance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that exempts a requirement to use 1-D or linear barcodes on vaccines.
