Precision® Bar Code Tags Enhance Infant Identification Testing at Danbury Hospital
San Fernando, CA (September 07, 2006) – Precision Dynamics Corporation's (PDC) new Precision® Bar Code Tags enhance positive patient identification and extend infant protection to bedside glucose point-of-care-testing (POCT) at Danbury Hospital's (Danbury, CT) Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Family Birth Center nursery.
Since using Precision Bar Code Tags, the success rate for automatic uploading of point-of-care glucose test results to the correct patient record is consistently greater than 99 percent, according to Mila Zielinski, POCT Coordinator in Danbury Hospital’s laboratory. Test results and trends are now viewed and analyzed on the electronic medical record (EMR).
Prior to implementing bar code tags, the baby's name and medical record number were handwritten on pre-numbered wristbands and ankle bands which were often times illegible. Also, nurses were required to manually key in the 11-digit patient number or medical record number into a glucose meter, which was tedious and didn't allow results to be entered automatically into the EMR.
"The new infant Bar Code Tags thread onto the infant and parent wristbands for positive matching of baby to mother and father. The tags provide a large surface area for the bar code and other printed patient information," said Kathy Halpin, IT Project Leader, Danbury Health Systems.
The unique bar code patient number on the tag allows nurses to match the glucose POCT results. They scan the patient bar code tag with the glucose meter, which automatically uploads the results to the patient's laboratory and medical record.
"PDC met the challenge of offering an infant ID solution that is small and soft enough for our patients, acceptable to our clinical staff, and compatible with our printers," said Halpin.
The success of the glucose POCT and patient matching led the laboratory to implement the same efficient system for phlebotomy draws using the patient bar code tag at the bedside. Danbury Hospital plans to use the tags to maximize patient safety for medication administration.
Precision Bar Code Tags allow health care personnel to instantly and accurately capture and verify data for medication administration, POCT, transfusion, specimen collection/tracking, surgical site safety and patient billing. PDC bar code solutions help health care professionals achieve the "Five Rights of Medication Safety" by accurately matching the right patient to the right drug, dose, time, and route. The tags also meet the requirements of JCAHO for positive patient ID, HIPAA for protection of patient safety, and AHA to reduce risk of lost or transferred data.
To read the Danbury Hospital testimonial, visit the PDC web site at: www.pdchealthcare.com
About Danbury Hospital
For 120 years, Danbury Hospital's mission in western Connecticut and nearby New York has been to advance the health and well-being of people in the community. Danbury Hospital has emerged as a regional medical center with centers of excellence in cardiovascular, cancer, digestive disorders, orthopedic, bariatric (weight loss surgery), high-risk pregnancy and neonatal medicine. The Hospital is a University Teaching Hospital of New York Medical College and ranked among the nation's 100 Top Hospitals® for its better patient safety, lower length of stay and higher rate of growth and responsiveness to the community, when compared to its peer teaching hospitals.
About Precision Dynamics
With 50 years of experience, PDC is a global leader and pacesetter in the development of Auto ID wristband systems for healthcare, patron management, and law enforcement. The company introduced the first patient Bar Code ID Wristband, patented Smart Band® Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Wristbands, the AgeBand® Electronic Age/ID Verification System, and PDC Smart Kiosk® Cashless RFID System. PDC is committed to 100% quality in service, design, and manufacturing and has ISO-9001: 2000 and ISO-13485: 2003 certification. For more information, visit www.pdcorp.com
Media Contact:
Leona Chavez
PDC
661.257.0233 x1351
[email protected]