How Barcodes are Improving Patient Outcomes in Value-Based Healthcare

Healthcare setups are characterised by growing numbers of patients, which means you must deal with inventory management regularly. Inventory management is usually tedious and time- consuming, especially on value-based healthcare facilities.

So in order to deal with the rising inventory complications, you can introduce Apryse's barcode SDK, which is designed to efficiently capture and transmit data to reduce the manual workload in value-based healthcare setups.

In this write-up, we'll delve into how barcodes are improving patient outcomes in value-based healthcare to help you understand how a barcode SDK can revolutionize the healthcare industry through efficient workflow automation, accurate patient identification, and secure medication management. Read on!

What Exactly is Value-based Health Care?

Value-based healthcare hospitals and physicians are paid according to the patient's health outcome. Essentially, this healthcare delivery model shifts the focus from volume of services being provided to maximising patients outcomes based on the cost of care.

The aim is to hold healthcare providers accountable for improving patient outcomes, and, at the same time, give them greater flexibility to deliver the right care at the right time.

The Role of Barcodes in Value-based Health Care

In healthcare, even the slightest mistake can be fatal. Below are ways barcode technology can help you improve patient care and safety in your hospital:

1.   Patient identification

Human errors during patient identification can lead to serious risks. This includes incorrect treatment and medication errors which compromise the safety of patients. Ideally, patient safety starts with the accurate identification of drugs and equipment during healthcare delivery.

Barcode Medication Administration (BMCA) has come to solve this issue. BMCA systems ensure the right patient receives the right medication. They ensure barcodes on patients' wristbands and medication packages are scanned before administering drugs.

The medication must match the patient's electronic health record (EHR), ensuring the right patient receives the correct treatment.

2.   Surgical Instrument Identification

Today, a lot of valued-based healthcare hospitals rely on barcode asset tracking software to streamline their surgical workflows. These systems allow you to accurately track surgical instruments from disinfection through patient use.

This process is usually time-consuming and prone to errors. However, barcode technology simplifies it to ensure every instrument is accounted for.

3.   Inventory Management

Almost every company today relies on barcode technology when dealing with supplies. Just like in any other sector, inventory management is crucial in value-based healthcare setups because medical supplies can have a direct impact on patient care.

Barcode technology helps minimize waste and reduce costs associated with the delivery of medical supplies. They help track inventory levels in real time, allowing you to trace equipment back to the manufacturer, comply with safety standards, and easily manage repairs.

4.   Electronic Health Records (EHR) Integration

Connecting EHR systems with barcode technology helps you boost efficiency and accuracy. As a healthcare provider, this integration allows you to access and update patient data by simply scanning a barcode. With an integrated healthcare delivery system you can significantly improve record keeping accuracy and improve patient care.

5.   Vaccine Management

Managing vaccine vials manually can lead to errors such as the vaccine being given to the wrong patient. However, having barcodes on vaccine vials will help you track the administration of vaccines in your hospital, especially during large scale vaccination programs.

You can track who last used a particular product and the patient for whom it was used. It also reduces the wastage of vaccines, which is essential in value-based healthcare.

Why is Barcode Technology in Value-based Healthcare Important?

Integrating barcode capabilities into your system helps you reap the following benefits:

• Enhance patient safety: Patient safety in any healthcare facility is paramount. Barcode technology has helped minimize human errors, which are the main contributors of risks in healthcare setups. A study conducted by researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston shows that incorporating barcode technology into an electronic medication administration record reduces transcription and medication errors by as much as 41%. As stated earlier, scanning patients' wristbands ensures the right patient gets the correct medication, preventing fatal accidents during healthcare delivery.
• Boost operational efficiency: When you scan a barcode, the information is instantly processed and integrated into your EHR system, streamlining operations like patient admission and inventory management. This automation is meant to save you time during data entry, allowing you to focus on patient care.
• Optimize inventory management: Optimizing inventory management in a busy hospital is very crucial. You see, the availability of medical supplies at the right time can save a life. As such, relying on barcode technology to monitor stock levels in real-time can significantly boost healthcare delivery in your hospital.

Final Thought

Improved patient safety is becoming increasingly important than ever, especially in this age when value-based healthcare is the priority. Adopting barcode identification software can significantly enhance patient safety, boost productivity, and minimize human errors in hospitals. Essentially, this technology lets you focus on providing the best care possible.