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HEALthcare labels

vital communication for patient safety

BY REBECCA OSTERMAN

In healthcare, where even the simplest of mistakes can lead to significant consequences, labels play an important part in patient safety. Medical labels provide vital communication for patients and healthcare providers, helping ensure accuracy and patient wellbeing. Given the importance of accurate communication, it is imperative that healthcare labels are designed and implemented to the highest standards of health and safety.

Types of Healthcare Labels

Labels play an extremely important role in medical facilities. A wide variety of label types can help to organize workflow and improve efficiency; secure and track patient documents, medication and specimens; comply with regulatory requirements; and reduce errors to enhance patient safety. In addition to a wide variety of general use labels, healthcare labels include:

Patient Identification Labels

Ensuring patient safety starts at the point of admission. Patient identification labels/wristbands include vital information to identify patients and highlight critical medical information. Labels can include color coding to identify medical conditions or allergies. And barcoding can help track patient care and treatment.

medical chart labels provide vital patient information

Chart Labels

Patient charts contain a vast amount of important information related to patient care including medical history, care instructions, test results, allergies and medications and conditions. Labels offer a convenient, easy-to-read way to convey this vital information.

Medication labels provide important information

Medication Labels

Barcoded medication labels can help ensure that the right medication is administered – to the right patient, at the right dose, at the right time. Studies have consistently shown that when used correctly, barcode medication administration (BCMA) can significantly preventable adverse drug events.

laboratory labels improve patient care

Laboratory Labels

Laboratories play a critical role in diagnostics and patient care. Speed and accuracy are vital in determining the best patient treatment options. Positive patient identification is a crucial first step in streamlining the lab testing process, and labels play a key role in this.

Bloodbag labels provide important safety information

Blood Bag Labels

Blood bag labels need to contain important information that identifies the blood and provides data that could impact the integrity of the blood product. This includes blood type, the date on which the blood was collected and expiration date. These labels will also usually contain tracking information.

Labels provide important infection control information

Infection Control Labels

These labels help to clearly and effectively communicate potential contaminants or hazardous materials. The important labels are generally brightly colored, easy-to-read and can be quickly deciphered to identify potential hazards.

Healthcare Label Considerations

Healthcare labels face unique environmental situations that require special considerations. These include:

Adhesive Requirements – Medical labels need to adhere to a variety of surfaces including plastic, metal, and glass. And they need to stay put under a variety of environmental conditions including refrigeration and freezing. It’s important to consider these factors when choosing the type of adhesive used in medical labels.
Clear Graphics – It’s important that healthcare professionals can quickly and easily read the text and graphics on medical labels. Labels should feature appropriately sized text, color coding and understandable signs and symbols.
Resistance to Smudging – Medical labels need to be readable, regardless of any rough handling or exposure to moisture. Consider materials or coatings that offer a high degree of scratch and smear resistance.
Easy to Dispense – Medical professionals are extremely busy – often completing multiple tasks at once, with gloves or other protective equipment. Labels need to be easy to dispense with one hand.
Printer Compatibility – Whether a medical facility is utilizing laser printing or desktop or portable thermal printing, it’s important to consider the way in which healthcare labels will be printed, and use the appropriate label material.
Chemical Resistance – Many healthcare labels will come in contact with chemicals and solvents that could degrade the label or markings. It’s important to consider possible chemical exposure and use labels with a high degree of chemical resistance if appropriate.

Your Healthcare Label Solutions Provider

As a leading label converter, DLS has extensive experience in healthcare label solutions. Our label application experts will help you choose materials, inks and adhesives that meet the needs of your customers. Contact us for more information.