At a Glance / Aperçu

Bar-code system eases immunizations

Canadian Medical Association Journal 1996; 155: 564

The Richmond, BC, Health Department now has a comprehensive reporting system that maintains immunization records for schoolchildren by employing bar-coded forms. Approximately 25 000 students now have immunization records in the department's immunization-tracking system, which records the student's name, date of immunization, dose, site, provider, vaccine, lot number and body site. The use of bar-code scanners reduces repetitive data entry and allows some information to be input in advance, instead of at the time of vaccination. A nurse and an assistant can vaccinate approximately 30 patients per hour and update the student's file simply by waving the bar reader over the code.

| CMAJ September 1, 1996 (vol 155, no 5) |