Barcode Scanners and Healthcare Go Hand-in-Hand
Just like most industries, the healthcare industry is heavily dependent on barcode technology. Barcodes provide numerous benefits to healthcare professionals and make everyday tedious tasks much easier. From ensuring patient safety to getting quick access to information, a barcode scanner has become a necessity in the healthcare ecosystem. Let’s discuss the many benefits of barcode scanning software and how you can choose one for your healthcare setup.
Uses of Barcode Scanner in the Healthcare Industry
Here are some exciting uses of barcode scanning software in healthcare.
Better Patient Safety:
Ensuring patient safety is critical for healthcare workers. A barcode scanner provides accurate information by eliminating the need for manual data entry. Hence, the chances of errors get reduced. Doctors and healthcare workers can provide better care to patients, from their admittance to the day they get discharged from the facility. All they need is a barcode scanner to decode barcodes tagged with the patient healthcare record.
Share Information in Real-time:
Sharing information in real-time with outdated methods and technologies is a challenging process. With barcode scanning software, critical information can be linked with barcodes on the patient wristbands. Hence, healthcare workers and doctors can quickly view all data in real-time. And the best part, they don’t even need a handheld barcode scanner to do so. Today, all you need is a mobile device such as a smartphone or a tablet to perform barcode scanning on the go.
Medication Authenticity:
One of the most outstanding benefits of barcode technology is that it helps verify medication authenticity. The Data Matrix codes printed on the prescribed medication help support regulatory compliance, enable traceability, and verify authenticity. All it takes is a single scan!
Patient Verification:
Healthcare workers can keep manual errors at bay and accurately confirm the identity of a patient by scanning the barcode on their wristbands. The process is quick and lesser prone to errors.
Specimen Tracking and Tracing:
Just like medication and patient safety, a barcode scanner also lets you track and trace blood and lab samples back to their origin, that too, in real-time.
Better Inventory Management:
Barcodes are crucial for better inventory management. In the healthcare industry, where a single mistake could lead to detrimental consequences, it is essential to integrate a robust barcode scanning solution. With the right software, healthcare workers can reduce shrinkage, simplify processes, and minimize out-of-stock.
How to Choose the Ideal Barcode Scanner for your Healthcare Setup
There are numerous barcode scanner apps available out there. As hospitals and clinics have to process and deal with critical data, choosing a random barcode scanning software is not the perfect choice. You can select a barcode scanner SDK to decode barcode and keep your information safe. It is better than building an app from scratch as it involves less time and effort. Here are the features to look for in a barcode scanner SDK.
High Speed:
One of the many benefits of barcode technology is quick access to information. Hence, there is no point in choosing a barcode scanner SDK that is slow. Leading ones, on the other hand, can scan over 500 barcodes in a minute.
Easy Integration:
Another benefit of choosing a barcode scanner SDK is that it involves less time and effort to add barcode reading functionality into an existing or new app. So, look for a solution that lets you do so with just a few lines of code.
Ability to Read Tough Barcodes:
Tough barcodes such as torn, incomplete, wrinkled, or angled are difficult to read. You might come across one on a medication box or packaging. Hence, look for a barcode scanner SDK that can read tough barcodes without a hitch.
Good Security Features:
Look for a barcode reader that lets you perform barcode scanning without any internet connection and on the device. This will help keep the sensitive information safe.
