Zebra introduced patient ID wristband printer
10 June, 2008
category: Health
Zebra Technologies has introduced a cartridge-based patient ID solution to make wristband printing easier and more cost-effective for health care organizations.
“Missing or illegible wristbands are a major contributing factor to many adverse events,” says Cristina De Martini, global practice leader for health care at Zebra Technologies. “By utilizing bar-coded wristbands, hospitals can ensure that clinicians have the ability to accurately identify patients before collecting specimens, administering medications or transfusing blood – a critical component for enhancing patient safety and reducing the potential for error.”
Ease of use was in mind when Zebra created its latest patient ID solution that combines the small-footprint HC100 thermal printer and easy-to-load cartridges containing Zebra’s Z Band direct thermal wristbands – an antimicrobial coated wristbands. In contrast to many laser solutions, the HC100 Patient ID Solution generates individual wristbands on demand. There is no need for staff to load labels into a special tray, print the labels, attach them to wristbands and apply laminate coatings, resulting in less waste and lower costs.
Featuring a smart card that optimizes print intensity and automatically calibrates for band size, the patient ID solution facilitates quick and accurate scanning at the point of care by producing bar codes and text that withstand water, blood, soap and other liquids while remaining smudge-free
The HC100 printer accommodates Zebra’s complete line of white and color Z Band cartridges, which are available in a variety of infant, pediatric and adult sizes as well as in both adhesive tab and clip closures. An antimicrobial coating protects Z Band wristbands from MRSA Types II, III and IV, in addition to S. aureus, P. aeruginosa and E. coli – the leading causes of hospital infections in the United States.
The HC100 Patient ID Solution was developed to accommodate a high volume of wristbands and as a result, users experience fewer jams and ongoing maintenance needs are minimized. Staff productivity may be enhanced because users do not have to replace toner or ribbons.
The HC100 Patient ID Solution also features built-in wireless connectivity, which simplifies implementation and enables users to easily move printers to different locations throughout the hospital. In addition, Zebra’s relationships with leading HIT software vendors help to expedite deployment of the HC100 Patient ID Solution by facilitating ease of integration with ADT applications.