Vikas Wadhwa, Chief Operating Officer, Bar Code India (BCI) explains the role of Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC) technologies in enhancing patient safety
AIDC technologies are revolutionising various applications within the healthcare sector, resulting in increased efficiency, precision, cost savings, and overall patient care quality. As the healthcare industry adapts to meet escalating regulatory demands while maintaining the safety of patients and staff, healthcare providers often grapple with the challenges of identifying effective strategies to deliver an exceptional patient experience consistently. From the patient’s initial visit to diagnosis, treatment, and post-treatment care, these technologies empower healthcare providers to boost productivity and efficiency and shape the future of their organisations.
With a heightened focus on elevating the customer experience, complying with Electronic Health Records (EHR) regulations, and ensuring patient and staff safety, healthcare organisations require technology that seamlessly and securely integrates with their existing processes. Implementing the right solutions can streamline error-prone tasks and enhance organisational flexibility, communication, and data management. AIDC enhances clinician productivity and has the potential to redefine the possibilities for healthcare organisations of all sizes and configurations.
Healthcare traceability solutions are anchored in core principles: ‘The Right Patient, The Right Care, The Right Time,’ every time! Technology is pivotal in ensuring patient safety, reducing errors, and instilling confidence through accurate, positive patient identification at every step—from admissions to discharge and every surgery, procedure, or test in between.
Real-time data collection at the point of activity enables data-driven, actionable insights for greater visibility into every aspect of healthcare operations. AIDC enables the collection of information on what is required now, predicts future needs, and facilitates the rapid location of staff and critical equipment when needed most.
Enhancing patient care and safety from admission to discharge allows healthcare providers to access and confirm essential patient information throughout the entire care journey. AIDC solutions help minimise errors and protect patient rights with specialised integration for the healthcare environment.
AIDC technology plays a vital role in various aspects of healthcare operations, such as pharmacy management, by streamlining medication tracking, promoting optimal pharmacy management, preventing errors, and increasing dispensing accuracy. Barcodes and RFID technologies efficiently track medications to the unit-dose level and ensure the correct medication is dispensed in the correct dosage for the intended patient.
Laboratory solutions streamline lab workflows and enhance accuracy with advanced specimen identification and tracking, a critical component in making accurate diagnoses. Poor laboratory inventory management can lead to errors, necessitating the retaking and re-evaluation of samples, which wastes precious patient time and money. AIDC technologies improve specimen identification and tracking from collection to testing.
AIDC helps in patient, staff, and asset tracking and monitoring, enhancing safety and operational efficiency by providing real-time information on the location of patients, staff, or assets throughout healthcare providers’ operations.
Lastly, AIDC enhances inventory management, achieving greater inventory accuracy, streamlining management processes, and optimising utilisation.
When integrated into healthcare systems, these technologies are crucial in enhancing patient care, reducing errors, saving costs, improving efficiency, and ensuring healthcare services’ overall safety and quality.