Bar codes and the clinical laboratory: adaptation perspectives.
This paper provides an overview of the functional capabilities of bar-code technology within the laboratory environment and assesses the problems and solutions encountered during its introduction in our laboratory. An idea of the potential costs and personnel savings is offered, demonstrating that we have saved an entire full-time equivalent (FTE) medical technologist in clinical chemistry with an associated improvement in the accuracy of patient identification and a marked improvement in turnaround time for both chemistry and hematology routine procedures. We have estimated the savings of two FTE medical technologists while improving service and accuracy. Hardware costs should be recovered in 2 years.
Dito
W R
WR
Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation, La Jolla, CA.
McIntire
S
S
Leano
J
J
D002140:California; D002984:Clinical Laboratory Information Systems / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000639:trends; D017046:Cost Savings / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003625:Data Collection; D004526:Efficiency; D001330:Electronic Data Processing / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000639:trends; D007755:Laboratories, Hospital / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends*; D017056:Medical Laboratory Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000600:supply & distribution; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010934:Planning Techniques; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*; D013597:Systems Analysis