Barcodes Aren’t Just For Bubblegum

The modern bar code began in 1948, and by 1974, the first supermarket product with a barcode scanned at checkout was a 10 pack of Wrigley’s gum. Since then, the barcode’s distinct ability to mechanically identify a product has grown and evolved to the point where countless products are barcode labeled and the barcode itself has evolved to contain far more information than a simple product code.

Realizing the versatility and power of barcodes, LPIT Solutions added several pieces of functionality to TrackCore over the last several years that utilize barcodes to streamline and speed up data input, while enhancing integration capabilities. Relatively inexpensive and easy to implement barcode readers and label printers make utilizing TrackCore’s barcode capabilities a very cost effective way of streamlining the tissue and implant tracking process, and in the long run, a great return on your investment.

Bar code symbologies are definitions for how the barcode itself is formatted. TrackCore supports numerous symbologies including Code 39, Code 128, QR Code, PDF417, DataMatrix and more.

In TrackCore, you can use barcode scanners to read barcodes and:

1. Search for and find specific items in the system.
2. Retrieve data regarding an item that you are receiving into the system. 
3. Retrieve data regarding a patient by scanning their patient wrist band or chart.
4. Use it as a data entry mechanism, by having other EMR software print out a list of barcodes that represent distinct pieces of information regarding an item or patient. 

Most barcode scanners interact with your software packages by making your computer think that they are a keyboard. This means that you can use barcodes to enter data into a variety of fields and save a tremendous amount of keystrokes and data entry time. Scanners also come in both tethered and wireless models, the latter of which can offer the end user a tremendous amount of mobility when using TrackCore.

Attaching a label printer and printing barcode labels from within TrackCore provides users with two distinct advantages. In some cases, not all tissue and implant vendors uniquely identify each item that they send to a hospital. These items are barcoded with lot numbers or batch numbers which represent the general product information rather than the specific item the user is holding in their hand. Once an item is received into TrackCore, it is issued a unique identifier which can then be printed in the form of a barcode label and attached to the item itself. This enables hospital staff to scan for and easily identify the specific product that they are look for whether it is to implant the item or isolate it due to a recall notification.

The second major advantage to printing barcodes from TrackCore, is that users can print TrackCore barcode labels in a 2D format. Two-dimensional barcodes are usually represented in a square or pattern of squares that form a rectangle and are able to encapsulate a considerable amount of information in a small area. Symbologies like QR, PDF 417 and DataMatrix are all forms of 2D barcodes. Printing a 2D barcode out of TrackCore and affixing it to a patient chart allows users to enter their data into TrackCore. Then by using a 2D barcode scanner attached to their EMR system, they are able to efficiently enter information about both the implant and the patient into the EMR with a minimal amount of clicks and keystrokes.

For more information or questions about using 1D and 2D barcodes to efficiently and effectively track tissue and implants per Joint Commission and FDA regulations, contact LPIT Solutions at 1-866-574-8765. Information may also be requested on the LPIT website at http://www.lpitsolutions.com/contact/contactform/info.