The health care industry is among the foremost to employ aspects of IT such as bar codes to increase the efficiency of its processes. While barcodes reduce the occurrence of errors in data entry, they form an effective system to help maintain records of patients, computerize and track supplies, check on the status of equipment and generally manage data swiftly and precisely. Barcode scanners negate the possibility human error in the fast paced environment of hospitals and health care institutions.
Accurate tracking of test results, doctor’s reports and prescriptions using barcodes add to the safety of patients. Reliability of data is another aspect that is of utmost importance in the health care industry where even the slightest error can be fatal. Barcodes eliminate the possibility of incorrect medication by ensuring the right medication is provided in the appropriate dosage to the patient concerned. Besides being less cumbersome and easy to use, bar code technology is also very cost effective in that it reduces the manpower requirement and eliminates the rate of errors thereby reducing costs incurred in rectification of those errors. In fact, such is the efficacy of barcodes that they are often the differentiating factor that contributes to saving the life of a patient.
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