Rugged Laptop and Barcode Scanner Address 5 Rights of Medication Safety Requirement
Executive Summary
University Community Health was in search of a 2D barcode scanner that could interact with its Panasonic Toughbook T8 to increase point-of-care safety and ensure the Five Rights initiative – right patient, right drug, right time, right dose, and right form. The solution replaces a pen and paper process with the introduction of a software driver, customized by Barcodes Inc, which allows the Honeywell 2D barcode scanners to communicate with the Panasonic Toughbooks.
Challenge
Driven by hospital specific directives to ensure the right hospital staff was prescribing the right medication to the right patients, hospitals are beginning to invest in barcode-based systems to ensure patient charting is performed electronically.
For patients being administered several forms of medication, healthcare providers routinely deployed a pen and paper patient charting solution that resulted in manual errors ranging from incorrect prescriptions provided to patients to unqualified hospital personnel administering medication. Due to a limited write space available on patient charts, the net result was an ineffective pen and paper process that was incapable of generating specific history of what hospital professional administered what dose at what time, thus reducing patient safety.
University Community Health Hospital decided to invest in an electronic solution to replace patient charts, including the capability to reduce manual errors and increase its space capability by providing nurses with Panasonic Toughbooks. However, the nurses soon realized that the solution, although safer for patients, was very tedious and demanded more time with each patient. Hospital employees were still required to include as much, if not more, patient information, as well as detailing all medication administered at precise times to each patient.
University Community Health was in search of a quicker, more effective solution that would not compromise its patients’ safety.
Solution
In response to the hospital’s need for a more effective solution, Barcodes Inc customized a software driver that would allow the Panasonic T8 Toughbooks to interface with the Honeywell 4600g HD and 4820HDHM barcode scanners. This solution allowed nurses the ability to scan all medication and patient information, while eliminated the requirement to manually input all the information into the Toughbooks. The solution is designed to allow nurses to scan a medication and patient wristband to ensure that the right prescription is going to the right patient. Additionally, after the patient consumes the right medication, the nurse validates that it has been administered by once again scanning the patient’s wristband.
Datalogic Gryphon 4000-HC (Healthcare) Barcode Readers Protect You and Your Patients
Datalogic is pleased to announce the Gryphon 4000 series of bar code readers has been expanded with the introduction of the Gryphon™ 4000-HC (Healthcare) models. The Gryphon™ HC series offers both corded and cordless linear imagers, targeting the healthcare industry and other bacteria-sensitive environments with special ‘disinfectant-ready’ barcodes scanner enclosures and patient features.
As global healthcare initiatives continue to push organizations towards automatic data capture, the Gryphon HC bar code readers include disinfectant-ready enclosures featuring silver ion-based antimicrobial additives. Coupled with industry leading sealing ratings, these special enclosures withstand daily cleaning with harsh disinfectant solutions, which helps reduce the spread of germs. The strength of these enclosures expands the life of the product, improves scanning performance and most importantly, secures a patient’s right to obtain quick and accurate data regarding medical treatments.
LXE Announces Tecton Rugged Handheld Mobile Computer
LXE announced today the launch of the Tecton™ rugged handheld computer, targeting supply chain applications. The successor to LXE’s highly successful MX7 handheld, the IP-65 rated Tecton handheld computer accelerates real-time data capture with an industry-leading PXA 320 806 MHz processor running Windows® Mobile 6.5 or Windows® CE 6.0.
Lightweight and extremely well-balanced in the user’s hand, and with sleek design for an industrial tool, the Tecton handheld delivers its enhanced performance across a wide array of supply chain tasks. The unit’s multi-range scanning capabilities enable bar code reads from four inches to 40 feet, so operators can perform warehouse moves ranging from receiving to full pallet put-aways with the same version of the computer. Scan-intensive picking can be enabled with the Tecton computer’s available easy-grip removable handle with two-finger trigger, and every Tecton computer comes with LXE’s ToughTalk technology for voice-driven processes. The device also features a scan vibration signal that can be used to verify successful scans in loud warehouses, and multiple built-in data-entry options.
Performance and versatility come with field-proven ruggedness and customizations for the most demanding environments. Keypads protect against airborne and spilled chemical agents, and electrical components are secured to circuit boards to better withstand drops and shocks. An available cold-storage configuration includes programmable touchscreen and scan window defrosters, and a cold-tolerant backup power source that holds a charge longer in environments as low as -30°C.
“The Tecton handheld performs well in so many tasks because it’s light enough for scan-intensive picking, yet able to take a beating,” said Newell. “We purpose-built this computer for the supply chain with the right combination of ergonomics, ruggedness, and computing power.”
Datalogic Introduces the Datalogic Gryphon I GBT4400 2D Reader
Today, people from all walks of life are using bar code readers in many different applications. As this technology continues to move into the mainstream, people are looking for more than just performance. Datalogic is proud to meet this challenge with the new Gryphon I GBT4400 reader. Designed with people in mind, this reader delivers the performance that users expect, while blending advanced 2D imaging technology with intuitive, user friendly features.
Fast reading allows the Gryphon GBT4400 reader to excel in diverse application requirements. From signature capture to document scanning, this reader offers the performance users demand to efficiently read common codes including 1D, 2D, postal, stacked and composite codes like PDF417 and GS1 DataBar™ and even small, condensed codes. Imaging technology also enables the Gryphon GBT4400 reader to easily capture bar codes from LCD monitors or mobile devices for the latest mobile marketing / ticketing applications.
High speed imaging and motion tolerance capabilities allow operators of the Gryphon GBT4400 reader to scan fast moving codes or move quickly from one code to the next. As a cordless device, mobility is supported by a Bluetooth® wireless technology, designed with a working range of 30 m / 90 ft. This allows the data to be quickly transmitted to the host as well as any other commercial or embedded Bluetooth® wireless technology v2.0 compliant device for optimal communication.
