Inkjet & Digital Printing
Zebra Technologies Introduces HC100(TM) Patient I.D. Wristbanding Solution
Wednesday 11. June 2008 - Combination of thermal printer and antimicrobial coated wristbands helps improve patient identification and enhance safety
Zebra Technologies (NASDAQ:ZBRA), a global leader in delivering on-demand specialty printing solutions for the healthcare industry, has introduced the first cartridge-based patient I.D. solution to make wristband printing easier and more cost-effective for healthcare organizations.
“Missing or illegible wristbands are a major contributing factor to many adverse events,” says Cristina De Martini, global practice leader, healthcare, 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.”
Designed for maximum ease of use, Zebra’s newest patient I.D. solution combines the small-footprint HC100(TM) thermal printer and easy-to-load cartridges containing Zebra’s Z Band(R) direct thermal wristbands — the only antimicrobial coated wristbands currently available in the market. In contrast to many laser solutions, the HC100 Patient I.D. 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 I.D. 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 longer than the average patient stay. 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.
Unlike laser printers, which are not designed to process large quantities of adhesive-backed wristbands and labels, the HC100 Patient I.D. Solution was developed to accommodate a high volume of wristbands. 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 I.D. Solution 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 I.D. Solution by facilitating ease of integration with ADT applications.