Tips for Bedside barcoding for the blood bank

Barcodes have become the standard means of identification in many industries ever since one appeared on a package of Wrigley's gum sold in Ohio in June 1974. So, why have hospitals been so slow to embrace a technology made popular at the same time as polyester pants?

When it comes to barcode verification at the bedside, the blood-transfusion process is particularly well suited. By using the latest mobile personal digital assistants (PDAs) with integrated barcode scanners, caregivers easily can scan their I.D. badges, the patient's wristband, and the blood unit to ensure the right blood is going to the right patient. They can even record vitals, reactions, and the volume transfused.

Implementation of these systems has been slow because as Dr. Jay Brooks of the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center correctly states, "Efforts to make blood transfusion as safe as possible have focused on making the blood in the bag as disease-free as possible. The results have been dramatic, and the costs have been correspondingly high.... We should turn our attention to enhancing overall blood safety by focusing on improving the process of blood transfusion."

Traditional approaches to improving safety at the point of blood transfusion have mostly resulted in adding yet another check in an already-complicated procedure. In contrast, new barcode-based bedside-verification systems consistently lead the caregiver through the correct process and, in many cases, reduce the number of steps.

In order to facilitate bedside verification, barcodes need to be printed on the caregiver badge, the patient wristband, and the blood unit. Fortunately, barcoded caregiver I.D. badges are now commonplace, blood units come from the blood-donor center pre-barcoded, and barcoding wristbands is easier than lab personnel may think. Unfortunately, selecting the right system and implementing it effectively can be tricky. So, the following top 10 tips to implementing barcoding verification at the bedside should help.

* 1. Select easy-to-use software.
* 2. Use 2D barcodes.
* 3. Use software that does not require wireless infrastructure.
* 4. Do not wait for RFID.
* 5. Track blood before it gets to bedside.
* 6. Think beyond blood transfusion - select a system that includes modules for sample collection, mother's milk verification, and more.
* 7. Do not wait for the large LIS companies.
* 8. Involve nursing early in the process.
* 9. Appoint a project manager to co-ordinate among the laboratory, the vendor, IT, and nursing, and ensure the project remains on schedule.
* 10. Training is key.

Dr. Jeannie Callum of Toronto's Sunnybrook Hospital successfully followed these guidelines and reports, "Our staff refused to give up the initial pilot equipment because it improved patient care and safety so much. That success has spurred an overall organizational initiative to pursue barcoding on a larger scale."

So, by adhering to these tips, any laboratory or hospital can afford patients the same level of identification and traceability as that pack of gum while improving workflow and compliance to SOPs. Remember that the ultimate goal is safer, simpler Healthcare.

AUTHOR_AFFILIATION
Paul Sharman graduated in applied science and is currently a project manager for Neoteric Technology Ltd. in Vancouver, British Columbia. The company (www.neoterichtech.com) specializes in blood tracking, dispensing and verification systems. Its BloodTrack product recently achieved FDA clearance for sale in the United States.

Source: Sharman, Paul. Medical Laboratory Observer, January 1, 2007, Volume 39; Issue 1