The healthcare sector requires a method for tracking and managing assets and equipment that are regularly used throughout a hospital. It also requires a means to quickly and easily share information, not only between providers but also with patients and the general public.
What if there were a technology that could do both of these things? By using QR codes in healthcare, the sector can achieve both of these objectives.
What Are QR Codes?
QR (Quick Response) codes are 2D barcodes that store information as a series of black or white pixels within a square-shaped grid. When a device scans the QR code, it delivers that information to the device. This information could be a website’s URL, a package’s shipping instructions, a phone number, or a multitude of other options.
QR codes were originally created in 1994 by the Japanese company Denso Wave, a subsidiary of Toyota. Denso Wave needed a method for tracking automobile parts that was more accurate than conventional barcodes. This is because barcodes can only be read from top to bottom, and can only store a limited amount of information. QR codes, on the other hand, can be read both top to bottom and left to right, and can store far more data. A QR code can store up to 4,000 characters of text, substantially more than conventional barcodes.
This depth of information has made QR codes extremely popular in multiple industries. Logistics and shipping are the most obvious use cases, but QR codes are also widely used in consumer-facing businesses. This is because modern smartphones with built-in cameras can read QR codes, making them an easy way to deliver information to customers. For example, a restaurant can print QR codes and place them on the table for customers to scan and access their menu, rather than have waiters hand them out.
QR Code Use in Healthcare
There are two primary use cases for QR codes in healthcare: asset management and information sharing.
Inventory Management and Equipment Tracking
Healthcare providers must constantly track the equipment and consumables that they use, such as medication, IV bags, painkillers, and more. Currently, barcodes are used in this role to track usage. For example, before administering a patient's medication, a nurse scans the label of the medication bottle using the built-in scanner on their medical computer or tablet to verify that it is the correct medication.
Because QR codes can contain more information than barcodes, they can be more precise about a medication’s contents. This, in turn, helps prevent medical errors by helping providers identify potential adverse interactions between different medications.
QR codes can also be used to track the expenditure of consumable items such as bandages and drugs. This gives hospitals greater insight into how much they use a particular item and how often they need to replenish their supplies of it. Asset tracking also becomes easier, as providers can scan QR codes to check out equipment such as X-ray machines and patient monitors.
Patient Tracking and Check-In
Whenever patients arrive at a clinic or hospital for an appointment, they must often go through a lengthy process of signing in and filling out paperwork to verify their identity. To avoid this, they can simply be issued an ID card with a QR code, which can be scanned at a patient kiosk. This card carries all of their critical identifying information and alerts providers that the patient has arrived, without requiring a receptionist’s time.
Public Engagement and Education
With an estimated 91% of all Americans owning a smartphone capable of reading QR codes, there is a massive opportunity for the healthcare sector to meet patients on a platform they’re comfortable with. Rather than hand a patient information files on their condition, they can have the patient scan a QR code with a link leading to a website hosting that info.
Similar techniques can be used to enhance presentations and public outreach. For example, hospitals and clinics can place QR codes in reception areas to provide information on hot-button topics or public health issues. Presenters at health conferences can even embed QR codes in banners or within their presentations to link to specific videos related to their topic.
Benefits of QR Codes in Healthcare
By implementing QR codes in healthcare, the sector can reap numerous benefits for both patients and providers. The most immediate benefits of adoption are:
Better Inventory Management
The ability to manage inventory and track equipment is absolutely essential for a hospital. Without critical supplies such as the correct blood type or drugs, a patient’s life is at risk. Without QR code-based tracking, hospitals must rely on paper records, which can easily be misplaced, damaged, or simply left incomplete. Scanning QR codes, on the other hand, is easy, can be done while retrieving the supplies in question, and updates electronic records that are more reliable than pen and paper.
Better-Informed Patients
Keeping patients informed of their condition and treatment plan is a cornerstone for building trust between them and their providers. By using QR codes to enable easier access to informative material, providers can meet patients on terms they find comfortable, with information that is easily accessible at any time.
Accessible Education
Accessibility is also a critical factor in public outreach and education. With the spread of misinformation becoming increasingly problematic, especially in the healthcare sector, providers and educators need resources that are convenient and intuitive for their intended audience. By making information readily available and easily accessible, educators can help ensure the general populace isn’t misled.
Challenges for QR Code Use in Healthcare
While implementing QR codes in healthcare is relatively easy, there are still some factors you need to consider before making the transition.
Hardware Support
Obviously, using QR codes requires having hardware that can support them. Fortunately, QR codes are extremely easy to implement. Any modern medical tablet or computer with a built-in camera can scan QR codes, and they can be printed by virtually any printer with available ink. This means that, as far as technology is concerned, QR codes are among the easiest to support.
Training and Implementation
Another concern with using new tools or resources is the time required to train and implement them. Again, QR codes are a nearly painless experience. Any workforce familiar with scanning barcodes is likely to know how to use QR codes, and the same techniques and workflows for using barcodes can also be applied to QR codes. Adding QR codes to equipment or a waiting area is a straightforward process that involves printing them, laminating the paper, and attaching them to the appropriate device or wall.
Cybersecurity
Sharing information via the Internet always carries the risk of malicious actors attempting to intercept or steal private data. If you decide to use QR codes in patient-facing roles, regularly check and make sure that your codes haven’t been stolen or replaced by ones leading to suspicious websites. This is a common tactic used by cybercriminals, and must be closely monitored against.
QR-Code Ready Computers and Tablets from Cybernet Manufacturing
The use of QR codes in healthcare is most likely a question of when, not if. Their ease of use and accessibility make them the ideal choice for any healthcare group seeking a straightforward way to manage inventories and communicate with patients.
If you’re interested in integrating QR codes into your workflow and need medical computers and tablets that can support this effort, contact the team at Cybernet Manufacturing. We’d be happy to explain how our products can help you utilize QR codes more effectively.