Hospital Automated Data Collection

Understanding Data Capture Technologies

By David J. Piasecki, with
Hope Hetico; RN, MHA

Automated data collection (ADC), also known as automated data capture, automated identification (AutoID) or automated identification and data capture (AIDC), consists of many different technologies. Bar codes, voice systems, RFID, OCR, laser scanners, vehicle mounted and wearable computers are all part of ADC management and hospital inventory activities.

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Six-Figure Projects

However, the fear of six-figure project costs often prevent many small to mid-sized hospitals and healthcare systems from taking advantage of these technologies. The key to implementing cost-effective ADC systems is to know what technologies are available and the amount of integration needed to implement them. Applying this processing knowledge in a healthcare organization will help in developing the scope of any project. Limiting projects to or prioritizing by those applications that have a high benefit/cost ratio allows these operational improvement technologies within a reasonable budget. 

Example:

For example, adding a keyboard-wedge bar-code scanner to an existing personal computer (PC) or blade terminal in a nursing station is a very low-cost method for applying ADC to existing hospital reporting applications. This type of hardware is inexpensive and the only real programming required is to add a bar code to the proper form (work order, pick and delivery slip, etc).

Review of the ADC Technologies

Some of the current hospital data capture technologies include the following:

a. Bar Codes

b. Bar-Code Scanners

Laser or CCD 

Auto-Discrimination

Keyboard-Wedge Scanners 

Fixed-Position Scanners

c. Portable Computers

d. Batch versus Radio Frequency

e. Hand-Held Devices

f. Vehicle-Mounted Devices

g. Wearable Systems

h. Voice Technology

i. Optical Character Recognition

j. Light Systems

Assessment

Driven by a need for improved data capture, asset management, staff mobility and standardized medication administration to name a few benefits, hospitals are likely to invest much more heavily in ADC and Wi-Fi technologies over the next five years, according to this new research report.

Link: http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Health-Care-IT/WiFi-Healthcare-Systems-to-Hit-49B-878082/

Conclusion

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