Barcoding News

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.

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Datalogic is pleased to announce the Gryphon 4000 series of bar code readers has been expanded with the introduction of the Gryphonâ„¢ 4000-HC (Healthcare) models. The Gryphonâ„¢ 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.

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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.”

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 DataBarâ„¢ 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.

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Teklogix is removed from the company name. New identity better reflects the company strategy.

Psion has shortened its operating company name, removing the name “Teklogix” to create a more effective global brand. Psion’s corporate identity has also been refreshed to work better in the digital world. These developments mark the next significant stage in the company’s transformation and accurately reflect the group’s business strategy.

“Our research showed that we had to remove the word “Teklogix” from our name, to unite the business around one, clear, global identity,” said John Conoley, CEO of Psion. “We found that the complexity of the dual company name was impacting our business by confusing our customers, resellers and other key stakeholders, especially in new markets for Psion. We also took the opportunity to refresh the brand to make it properly mirror our business strategy and to work better in the digital world.”

Challenge: Improve labeling operations in order to concentrate on customer relations

Combining the concepts of travel and decoration, Maisons du Monde is a retailer specializing in furniture and interior decoration with 200 shops. A true success story, the retailer has been able to rise to prominence in a booming market and expand to several European countries in less than 15 years.

Maisons du Monde’s original positioning and its collections that are renewed continuously to adapt to current trends are the retailer’s winning qualities. In this logistical environment where the management of stock and collections is essential, the French brand has decided to turn to various technological partners who can introduce an innovative marking and identification system.

In order to enable its shop assistants to concentrate on the customers rather than on restrictive and particularly time-consuming labeling operations, the retailer wanted to introduce modern and progressive mobile technologies for item labeling and in-store inventory management of different collections.

Maisons du Monde turned to industrial partners specializing in marking and printing who were capable of implementing a universal solution very quickly in all shops in France.

A few essential requirements were established in order to deal with the enormity of the project and the extremely short deadline:

• “PDA/mobile printers” materials must ensure that items are handled rapidly, while making employees fully mobile
• Predominantly centralized technical support management must enable each shop to be run remotely without requiring a technician to work on-site

“In contrast to large-scale food retail, specialist retailers, such as Maisons du Monde do not have a digital price display system using electronic labels, enabling prices to be modified remotely. In-store relabeling and stocktaking are carried out manually and require significant attention; a pricing error has irreparable negative consequences on customers”, explains Guillaume Cesbron, chief information officer at Maisons du Monde. ” Faced with this problem, we therefore looked for a fully mobile, non cumbersome, highly reliable material and software solution, that used portable PDA mobile devices linked to wireless printers“, he adds.

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Elf, the rugged PDA from Datalogic, receives certification for voice and data communications on AT&T networks

Datalogic received certification from AT&T for the Datalogic Elf, a rugged PDA mobile computer, to access the AT&T wireless network for voice and data communications. This gives the Datalogic Elf access to the nation’s largest provider of broadband with over 17.4 million total broadband connections.

“AT&T certification adds another network option for our end users” says Tom Burke, Vice President of Product Marketing. “Elf users can roam throughout the country and maintain broadband connectivity to their enterprise almost seamlessly.”

Datalogic Mobile designed Elf from the ground up with the technology and ruggedness to meet the needs of applications in Field Service, Field Sales, Delivery, Retail and Logistics. Elf connectivity options include: UMTS HSDPA mobile radio for voice and data communication, ideal for connecting to the AT&T wireless network.

Elf includes embedded 802.11 a/b/g radio with CCX V4 certification for secure enterprise-class mobile connectivity. Elf packs cutting edge features into a compact form factor built for single handed operation.

The Elo TouchSystems 2242L provides OEMs and software developers a ruggedized, 22-inch open-frame touchmonitor built to reliably run multi-touch gaming, wayfinding, concierge services and other touch-powered self-service programs.

The Elo TouchSystems 2242L, with IntelliTouch Plus surface acoustic wave (SAW) touch technology, is Tyco Electronics’ newest monitor compatible with the Windows 7 operating system additional qualifications (AQ) for multi-touch functionality. It has been available to select partners since early December 2010.

“Gaming and hospitality environments present unique performance and durability requirements for touch screens, and the Windows 7 operating system delivers enormous design advantages with its stable and innovative touch interface,” said Murtaza Amiji, Business Development Director at Tyco Electronics Touch Solutions business. “Tyco Electronics blended these market needs and OS capabilities in our Windows 7 compatible Elo 2242L monitor with the IntelliTouch Plus surface acoustic wave product technology to increase the range of touch options for the gaming industry.”

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In any area of a healthcare facility, the need to limit the spread of germs is critial to improve patient care and protect employees in direct contact with infected patients. This can be particularly important if the barcode scanner is traveling room-to-room on a medication cart, stationed in a high-traffic area, or used by multiple personnel. To protect patients and employees, shared equipment must always be kept in a clean, sanitary condition; yet, routine cleaning of data collection devices with harsh chemicals can erode plastic enclosures over time and potentially damage internal components.

To solve this challenge, Datalogic‘s Disinfectant-Ready enclosures are designed to withstand daily cleaning with harsh disinfectant chemical solutions to effectively fight germs and bacteria. These special plastic enclosures are treated with silver ion-based anti-microbial additives to earn their anti-microbial status. These additives have been proven to inhibit microbial growth on the scanner’s surface when tested against standards JIS Z 2801:2000. This standard is internationally recognized by the healthcare industry and certifies that specific germs and other micro-organisms are inhibited by the silver ion-based additives. Datalogic’s Disinfectant-Ready enclosures are additionally coupled with industry leading IP sealing ratings to further protect the scanners internal components from intrusion by chemicals and other liquids.

Protect your technology investment as well as your patients and employees health with Disinfectant-Ready enclosures from Datalogic and ensure years of dependable and reliable scanning performance.

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Darth Vader wields a menacing Symbol LS2208 barcode scanner beam as his light saber.