The Study of barriers, requirements and use of barcode technology in hospitals of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Barcode is one of the most common technologies facilitate daily processes and improve the patient safety. Lack of attention to the requirements and barriers of using this technology leads to lack of use or misuse the barcode in the hospitals. Aim: The present research aimed to the study of barriers, requirements and use of barcode technology in hospitals or Tabriz university of medical sciences and presenting suggestions for to use it. Methodology: The research is observational-descriptive. The data was collected using the designed checklist by the researcher which its validity and reliability was assessed. Research community included 10 teaching hospitals. A class of 65 participants included 34 people the directors of the reception, medical records, pharmacy and drug store, and hospital laboratories departments. Another class of research community included 31 staff of the income, improvement of the quality and informatics departments. Findings: Required changes of workflow processes in the hospital and compliance them with the hospital policy are such requirements that had been infringed in the 90 % of hospitals. Additionally prioritization of some hospital processes for barcoding, system integration with HIS, training of staff and budgeting are such requirements for the successful implementation of bar code system which had been infringed in the 80% of hospitals. Dissatisfaction with the quality of barcode labels and lacks of adequate scanners both whit the rate of 100 %, and the lack of understanding of the necessary requirements for implementation of barcodes as 80%, were the most important barrier for barcoding. Discussion and Conclusion: The requirements and barrier for application of bar codes have been summarized in the three main groups including issues related to the policy and processes, technology issues, and issues related to education and the cost.