Barcode Recognition Technology: Implementing Smart Data Capture Methods for Healthcare

Summary: A Barcode SDK can revolutionize the healthcare industry by ensuring accurate patient identification, secure medication management, and efficient workflow automation. It minimizes errors, streamlines operations, and supports HIPAA compliance by enabling quick and secure scanning of barcodes on patient records, medications, and lab reports. Discover how the Apryse Barcode SDK safeguards patient data while enhancing workflows to deliver better care and improve operational efficiency.

The Apryse version 11 product release introduced significant advancements in data extraction, with an enhanced OCR engine and new barcode SDK libraries. These expanded capabilities enable faster and more reliable data capture and transmission, particularly benefitting the healthcare industry, where nearly 75% of healthcare professionals actively seek ways to reduce administrative burdens.

By automating sorting and routing tasks, barcode recognition reduces the manual workload in healthcare, ensuring that data is delivered in the right format and to the appropriate system. Barcode recognition technology uses unique identifiers, such as client IDs, order numbers, or dates, to automate document categorization and tagging. These unique IDs come in a scannable format, such as a QR code or Data Matrix, giving barcode SDKs the ability to extract and decode, enabling a software application to categorize data automatically. Paired with Intelligent Document Processing (IDP), documents can be routed to the correct workflows.

A barcode SDK with IDP makes it easy to scan barcodes and automatically pull important data into healthcare systems. Using tools like optical character recognition (OCR), which can extract text from images, IDP reads barcodes and picks out key information to speed up data entry.

By extracting specific data elements and grouping similar codes, this automation can push and pull relevant data into healthcare and inventory systems, supporting efficient and secure data management across critical healthcare workflows. What automated barcode data extraction looks like in action:

Extracting patient data: When scanning a barcode with IDP capabilities, printed information like a patient’s billing or insurance details can be automatically extracted and imported into their medical record.

When paired with IDP, barcode technology elevates efficiency, enabling automated data extraction, document classification, and seamless integration with healthcare systems. However, developers must ensure secure data transmission when integrating new technologies to protect patient information and maintain regulatory compliance.

Barcode usage is governed by a slew of compliance entities and regulations to ensure that healthcare companies adopt intelligent data capture technology that protects the organization and the patient’s medical data.

The GS1 Barcoding Standards are set by GS1, a non-profit global accrediting body, to ensure product or patient data is properly tracked. Barcodes often contain a Global Trade Item Number (GTIN), a mix of digits accompanying a barcode on product packaging.

In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) adheres to the GS1 Barcoding Standards, and under the Drug Supply Chain and Security Act (DSCSA), requires barcode usage to authenticate prescriptions across the supply chain to prevent counterfeit drug development and distribution. In the EU, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) requires adherence to the Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD) regarding pharmaceutical compliance to prevent counterfeit medications.

Inventory control systems, such as Barcode Medication Administration (BCMA), use barcode recognition software in healthcare to reduce errors, ensure compliance, and protect patient safety. For instance, something as transactional as scanning the barcode on a patient’s wristband can verify that the patient receives the correct medication dosage. This process aids nurses in confirming the ‘five rights’ of medication administration: right patient, right medication, right dose, right route, and right time.

HIPAA compliance protects patient contact and medical information and doesn’t directly regulate barcode usage. However, patient data can be used to encode barcodes and must remain confidential and secure.

Barcode recognition technology is a vital component for enhancing patient safety and driving efficiency in healthcare operations. By using automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) solutions like barcode scanning, healthcare providers can ensure accuracy and consistency throughout the patient care lifecycle. Adhering to GS1 standards, barcodes help track and verify the correct use of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, facilitating safe medication administration, accurate patient identification, and streamlined inventory and billing processes. Let’s explore key use cases of barcode technology in healthcare:

Ensuring accurate patient identification is a foundational step in safeguarding patient safety. From the moment a patient is admitted to a hospital or checks in to a clinic for ongoing care, they may receive a wristband containing a unique identifier that links directly to their electronic medical record. This barcode lets healthcare providers quickly confirm the patient’s identity and any special medical requirements to administer proper and prompt care.

Barcode scanning is a valuable tool for reducing the risk of errors in medication administration, especially with the right dosage amount and time. By combining barcode medication administration (BCMA) with patient identification, healthcare providers can accurately record each drug dosage and its exact time of administration. Studies have shown that BCMA can reduce medication administration errors by up to 50% when used effectively. This technology helps confirm the right medication is given to the patient and can help flag expired medications, ensuring healthcare providers can prevent the administration of drugs past their expiration date. (SOURCE)

Barcode recognition technology can expedite claims processing and billing transactions by automating the delivery of patient data and sending it to a healthcare information system. An administration or claims processing team can scan a barcode on a patient document, pulling relevant information from an insurance card. The extracted data is then transmitted to the organization’s billing system, providing accurate and immediate policy information.

Barcode technology is essential for ensuring precise traceability of lab samples, dosage tracking, and medical equipment and efficiently reducing errors in patient care.

With the addition of Intelligent Document Processing (IDP), essential information can be transmitted securely across healthcare systems.

When integrating a Barcode Extraction SDK into healthcare software, developers should seek a toolkit that tackles the imperfections and compliance risks associated with medical data. The SDK should efficiently manage high volumes and process both 1D and 2D barcodes without sacrificing speed. Additionally, it should incorporate pre-processing features to enhance scan accuracy and include strong security measures to maintain compliance with healthcare regulations.

In healthcare workflows, 1D and 2D barcodes are often used together to manage different data types. For instance, a patient’s wristband may have a 1D barcode for simple identification, while 2D barcodes, which can store larger amounts of data in a compact format (like QR codes), are frequently used for tracking lab samples or medical equipment. A Barcode Extraction SDK must handle both 1D and 2D barcodes efficiently without compromising processing speed. The SDK should be powerful and adaptable enough to handle the unique demands of each barcode type in high-volume environments.

Mobile image capture can often negatively impact the quality of barcode scanning. Up to 63% of barcode scanning errors are caused by skewed, low-resolution, or faded images. Many of these errors can be resolved by preprocessing the image to improve clarity, such as deskewing or resampling to enhance the barcode lines.

Pre-processing routines can automatically enhance the image from a live camera feed to ensure faster and more accurate barcode detection without requiring user intervention.

Patient information must be protected throughout all stages of healthcare workflows. Barcode SDKs used in IDP solutions must be efficient and secure, ensuring data remains protected as it moves through various systems and stakeholders. Developers should prioritize SDKs with robust security features, such as strong encryption, role-based access controls, and adherence to data privacy regulations like HIPAA and GDPR.

The Apryse Barcode Extraction SDK offers on-premises deployment for businesses requiring strict data control, making it ideal for regulated industries like healthcare. It supports over 100 barcode types, including 1D and 2D formats like QR codes, UPC, EAN, Code128, and DataMatrix.

Apryse’s advanced algorithms ensure accurate scanning even when barcodes are damaged, skewed, or low-quality – an essential feature in healthcare environments where barcodes may encounter harsh conditions. The SDK also integrates seamlessly with Apryse WebViewer and other tools, enabling document management, editing, and barcode data extraction within a single platform.

Apryse’s Barcode Extraction SDK provides a powerful, flexible solution for integrating barcode recognition into healthcare applications to automate data capture and routing processes. To enable faster and more reliable extraction of critical information, such as patient data, medication details, and inventory updates, get started with Apryse’s barcode module today.