It always takes longer than you think.” It’s known as Hofstadter's Law and we’ve all experienced the frustration. From household tasks to work functions, even when you expect them to take longer, they take longer than you expect. Although this is frustrating for any project, it’s especially challenging in fast-paced healthcare and veterinary practice operations, where efficiency and accuracy are paramount. Labels play a critical role in this ecosystem, serving as essential tools for identification, tracking, and communication. Ready-to-use stock labels are one way to reverse Hofstadter’s Law.

The Benefits of Using Stock Labels

Why are stock labels an effective option? They are pre-designed, ready-to-use , available in standardized formats, and on the shelf and ready to ship quickly. This simplicity brings several key benefits:

Cost-Effective

A stock label is produced in large quantities, significantly greater than a typical order amount. These sizable production runs create economies of scale, driving down the unit cost of each label. Using stock labels can help healthcare organizations and veterinary practices reduce costs.

Time Savings by Using Pre-Designed Formats

 The labels are ready to use, which is particularly valuable in hospitals and veterinary clinics where the priority is patient care.

Fast Turnaround

Stock labels are kept in inventory which reduces the wait time between ordering and application.

Applications in Healthcare

For various applications in healthcare settings, stock labels provide a reliable solution for managing critical operations effectively.

Medication Management

For example, stock labels are essential to effective medication management:

• Prescription labels guide the proper use of medication for both medical professionals and patients.
• Medication instruction labels provide an abbreviated version of the drug information sheet, increasing medication efficacy and eliminating accidental misuse.
• Anesthesia labels, designed using ASTM color guidelines, quickly identify different types of medications, reducing the risk of errors during administration.
• Look-alike, sound-alike labels assist safe medication dispensing by alerting the clinical staff to drugs that are easy to confuse.
• Arguably, no drug deserves closer scrutiny than opioids. Opioid warning labels assist in proper storage and dispensing, helping to prevent unintended use.

Patient Identification

In addition to medication management, labels help ensure positive patient identification. This is vital for accurate treatment and care. Admission labels and patient wristbands are the cornerstone for tracking patient information and ensuring treatments are executed properly.

Compliance and Safety

Organizations ranging from the CMS and The Joint Commission to OSHA and local departments of health, oversee healthcare organizations to ensure they provide quality care and safety for all patients. From patient identification accuracy to medication safety and infection prevention, healthcare facilities must adhere to stringent regulatory requirements. Stock labels help healthcare organizations meet those requirements. UAL stock labels are designed to meet compliance standards.

Applications in Veterinary Practices

Veterinary practices face many of the same challenges as healthcare facilities, including the need for precise labeling. Stock labels provide an efficient solution for a range of applications.

Patient and Medication Labeling

Accurate patient and medication labeling is a frontline defense against dosing errors. Clear, precise stock labels help to ensure the veterinary staff administers the correct medication to the right patient at the appropriate dosage. In addition, although look-alike, sound-alike drugs are more prominent in healthcare, their similarities contribute to error rates in veterinary practices as well. Using drug syringe labels that highlight the drug name is one way to minimize the problem. They alert the staff to drug names that look or sound similar.

Inventory Control

Inventory represents the second largest expense next to labor for any veterinary practice. Managing supplies and treatments requires careful tracking to avoid overstocking, obsolete inventory or running out of critical items. Inventory management labels applied to shelves, bins and individual products are an effective way to monitor inventory levels and reorder points. Plus, for items with specific use-by dates, like medications, vaccines and more, expiration date labels placed on each item can reduce obsolescence.

Regulatory Compliance

UAL stock labels are designed to assist veterinary practices in complying with regulatory requirements, including those related to drug storage, handling, and dispensing. Adhering to these regulations is critical for maintaining the practice’s license, avoiding legal issues and enhancing medication safety. Here are a few examples:

• Infection control - Cleaning and disinfection, hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment, identifying high-risk patients, and managing contagious patients in isolation are guidelines from the American Animal Hospital Association’s AAHA Infection Control Task Force.
• Handling hazardous chemicals - OSHA regulations include labeling chemical containers (including secondary containers, such as smaller exam room bottles) with the chemical name and the appropriate warnings.
• Labeling sharps and medical waste containers - is another OSHA regulation.
• Medication labeling - the FDA mandates specific medication labeling requirements.
• Handling hazardous drugs safely - with treatments involving hazardous drugs increasing, how to handle drugs safely is increasing in importance. The USP <800> chapter is applicable to veterinary practices.

Implementing Stock Labels for Maximum Efficiency

Although ready-to-use stock labels are an efficient, cost-effective labeling option, use these tips to further maximize their benefits.

Choosing the Right Labels for Different Tasks

Sometimes you know the type of label you need. But when you don’t, there are numerous variables that impact the best option. 

• Do you print the label?
• Is it exposed to moisture or chemicals?
• What type of surface is it applied to?
• After labeling the item, is it stored in a refrigerator or freezer?

These are just a few of the many questions that determine which stock label best fits your needs. But how do you select stock labels that are specifically designed for the tasks at hand? These two resources will simplify the process.

• UAL Website
• Stock Catalog

Training Staff on the Optimal Use of Stock Labels

Although applying a label to a syringe or IV line seems straightforward, unknowingly placing it where it obscures essential information can lead to an adverse drug event. Training staff on how to use stock labels properly ensures they communicate vital information that guides proper care.

Regularly Reviewing and Updating Labeling Processes

Healthcare organizations and veterinary practices are dynamic environments where regulations, processes and protocols change. Regularly reviewing and updating your labeling processes ensures that your operation remains compliant and efficient.

Partnering with United Ad Label

UAL offers a comprehensive range of pre-made labels, designed specifically for healthcare and veterinary applications. Our labels are cost-effective, readily available, and compliant with industry standards. For organizations with unique needs, or desiring personalization,  we also offer custom options to ensure that your labels meet your exact specifications. Partner with United Ad Label to implement a labeling solution that meets your needs and supports your operational goals.