Medication errors are one of the biggest issues within the medical field, with 85% of anesthesiologists reporting that they’ve either experienced or nearly experienced one of these errors. Medication errors aren’t just simply mix-ups; depending on the drug involved, they can put a patient’s well-being at major risk. In some cases, medication errors can even be fatal. To help cut back on this risk, clear medical labors must be used in order to differentiate drugs and minimize confusion. Creating specialty labels like these can help prioritize patient safety while improving the productivity of staff members.
The Benefits of Specialty Labels in the Medical Field
Specialty labels and dry erase labels can have a couple of major benefits. Three of the most significant include:
- Increased Productivity
Specialty labels for drugs can help staff to easily identify medications and the patient to whom they’re prescribed. Smaller labels can be difficult to tell apart and can add to the risk of misidentification. But specialty medical labels can be designed to ensure names are easy to read. This can allow for safer and quicker administration, without having to worry about comparing prescriptions or potentially picking the wrong one.
Dry erase labels can also have the benefit of allowing staff to easily know when the last dose was administered. By quickly writing the date and time on the bottle, dosage information can be easily communicated. Dry erase labels are also good for charting, as they allow staff to mark when someone last checked in with a patient and can inform staff of any special considerations. Some hospitals will use dry erase boards in rooms for this purpose; however, being aware ahead of time can allow you to prepare if additional medications or treatments if they are needed.
- Accuracy
Accuracy is everything in the medical field; even seemingly simple mix-ups can have devastating effects. By having labels that are easier to read, staff can more readily identify a drug and ensure it’s administered properly. This lowers the risk of misreading a name and potentially administering the wrong prescription. Overall, this makes patients and staff safer while also improving the quality of care and increasing efficiency. Likewise, dry erase specialty labels can further increase accuracy by ensuring any important notes are easy to see. If a longer explanation is needed than the space given, staff can even write a note that reads “see chart” so the next person knows to read the notes before re-administering the medication.
- Safety
Specialty labels can make patients and staff safer by making medication labels easier to read, but they can also be used to give warnings about hazardous materials and medical waste. For example, staff can label disposal containers or using dry erase labels to point out which specific machines need to be disinfected or decommissioned due to errors. This helps lower the risk of exposure to potentially harmful substances or waste and can prevent other staff members from using unclean or faulty equipment.
Labeling is crucial in the medical field. Without the proper labels, the risk of error can increase significantly. If you’re in this field and wish to improve these methods, consider reaching out to a labeling company to see what they can offer. Many labeling companies not only offer custom labels, but they can give you the ability to bulk order as many as needed. This type of investment can go a long way towards ensuring patients are safer and the job of staff members is a little bit easier.
