It was once said, “Communication is the most important medical instrument.” And although a good scalpel may make a better surgeon, good communication is the tool that makes healthcare providers most effective. Without a doubt, in a profession where the clinical staff cares for dozens of patients each day, navigating the demands of the healthcare landscape requires a clear and precise communications framework. EHR systems are one essential form of communication. But essential communications are conveyed in other ways as well. In fact, the hidden gems of healthcare communications are clerical labels, medical alert stickers, and laboratory communication labels. They ensure efficient, safe, and clear communication, impacting patient safety, protocols, and compliance.

The Importance of Labels Across Healthcare Settings

In healthcare, labels play an essential role, in making patient information clear and easy to find. For example, they enable patient identification, medication dispensing, specimen testing and enhance communication throughout a healthcare organization. Labels complement information from verbal and electronic sources, delivering messages clearly and minimizing misunderstandings.

Improving Patient Safety

Given the choice between technology (medical devices, computers) and labels, healthcare providers would almost certainly choose technology. But imagine how error rates would explode without labels on medications, patient wristbands, specimens, and more. In fact, proper labeling is an essential element of patient safety from admission through discharge. Here are just a few examples of how they impact patient safety:

• Scanning a barcode label on a patient wristband helps providers confirm the right patient is receiving the correct procedure or medication.
• Medical alert labels warn the clinical staff of patient risks, preventing problems before they occur.
• After drawing a specimen, labels provide a chain of custody back to the correct patient, inform the laboratory staff and allow the care team to build a proper treatment plan.
• IV line labels help prevent infusion rate or line mix-ups, which is especially important when multiple IV bags and lines are involved.
• When medications are prescribed, pharmacy labels detail key information that guides the clinical staff and the patient in using medications properly.

Labels Streamline Healthcare Workflows

If you walk around a healthcare facility today, it’s unlikely you’ll travel more than a few steps without seeing barcode technology in use. And for most applications, labels are the enablers that allow this process to work effectively. From patient identification and medication management to specimen tracking and distinguishing hazardous drugs, barcode labels provide instant access to pertinent information, reducing the time spent on information verification.

But labels enable more than barcoding.

Medical Equipment

Labels on medical equipment guide proper use, detail maintenance schedules and calibration dates, helping to ensure that equipment is properly maintained and functioning optimally.

Inventorying Medications

Labels clearly indicate product names, quantities, and expiration dates, making it easy for staff to quickly identify and locate needed supplies. This reduces time spent searching for items and ensures that supplies are readily available when needed for patient care.

Plus, labels make it easy to identify items that require refrigeration or freezing so they are stored properly. Further, they serve as an alert, warning the staff to not accidentally unplug refrigerators that store perishable vaccines or medications.

Inventory

Central stores use labels on inventory racks, bins, pallets and more to locate items in storage.

Using Labels to Meet Compliance Standards

Proper labeling is a component of several Joint Commission standards. For example, standards that incorporate:

• Medication Management
• Provision of Care, Treatment, and Services
• Performance Improvement
• Environment of Care
• National Patient Safety Goals

All use labels to address complex issues in the patient care experience.

Medication Management

From ordering and preparing to administering and monitoring the effects of medications on patients, labels ensure that medications are correctly identified and administered safely.

Provision of Care, Treatment, and Services

Guidelines in the Provision of Care, Treatment and Services standard include drawing and preparing specimens for laboratory analysis to ensure accurate patient diagnostics. The label attached to the specimen container or test tube informs the laboratory staff and protects the patient from adverse errors.

Performance Improvement

This category emphasizes the importance of monitoring and improving the quality and safety of patient care, which includes safety initiatives such as medication labeling.

Environment of Care

From laboratory materials to disinfecting supplies, hazardous materials serve vital functions in healthcare organizations. Labeling chemicals and hazardous materials is essential to adhering to this standard. It contributes to providing a safe, functional and effective environment for patients, staff members, and other individuals in the hospital.

National Patient Safety Goals

For over 20 years, The Joint Commission has published its National Patient Safety Goals to help organizations address specific areas of concern regarding patient safety. One goal that has consistently appeared on this list is accurately identifying individuals before administration.

Why?

Misidentification can lead to significant consequences, including incorrect diagnoses, improper treatment, and even patient harm. Before every test or procedure, healthcare providers confirm patients’ identity using wristbands and labels.

United Ad Label

Communication is important in any organization but none more than healthcare. The unique needs of different patients interacting with doctors, nurses and other clinical staff translate into hundreds of interactions each day. Clerical labels, medical alert stickers, and laboratory communication labels complement electronic and verbal communications elevating the level of patient care. United Ad Label helps healthcare organizations enhance communications, meet compliance guidelines and elevate patient safety through effective labeling processes. Learn more about United Ad Label’s stock and custom healthcare labels here.