[MT-L] C/S 5.67 pp 22 Alternative to Zebra armband printers

[Janice Seiler]

Our CFO is questioning the high cost of Zebra armbands and wants us to find an alternative.  Anyone out there willing to share what they are using successfully with BMV, glucometers and TAR.

 

Janice Seiler   |   IT Systems Analyst

Citizens Medical Center   |   2701 Hospital Drive   |   Victoria TX 77901-5749                      

P: 361.574.1715  EX: 1715  

jse...@cmcvtx.org    |    www.citizensmedicalcenter.org  

 

 

[Charles Still]

Hello Janice

Which printer?  The HC100 has a cartridge, that I found cuts down on support calls and downtime, but is more expensive from a purchase price view.  There is also the GX series Zebra printers that do not use a cartridge but require more support as users have to be able to load a wristband roll into the printer, which means more calls to IT; but the wristbands are cheaper.  Laser labels in Meditech NPR are more expensive, as you print a page per print, without 2D barcode options which negatively impacts you patient safety scanning at the bedside for BMV.  

To get 2D barcodes in Magic or C/S NPR you need an add on package like RWPGX+ ($2500 / year) or Access eForms or Formfast which I believe adds another zero to the previous cost.  At my last facility I used HC100's in admissions and the GX series printers on the nursing floors, where volume was lower, and for label printing in practices.  The lower cost of wristband rolls was offset by off hours support calls because they could not load wristbands in the printer. 

I'm thinking, the "cheapest alternative", from purchase price only, while still using 2D barcodes for patient safety would be the GX series Zebra printers or a Datamax desktop printer with custom programing for wristbands.  Someone may have uploaded some to the Meditech report repository for Datamax with 2D barcodes for wristbands, I've not looked recently.  Note the HC100 wristband formats will not work with the GX series or Datamax printers.  The HC100 npr formats can be modified for the GX Zebra printer, but the Datamax uses a completely different printer language.

Hope to see you at MUSE next week!  And glad the L is back on line!

Charles J. Still, MBA, CPPS, CPHQ

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Charles J. Still, MBA, CPPS, CPHQ

Cha...@PatientSafeRx.com

518.779.8603

[Charles Still]

Ok.. quick look online... HC100 wristbands are about .21-22 cents per wristband, GX Series wristbands are .09-.08 cents per wristband (before any GPO contract.)   So, if you have the HC100 and buy all new printers to replace them you can maybe cut your purchase cost in half, but do expect more support calls based on my experience.  Also note I did formerly do work for Zebra but I'm trying to share real information as it impacts a clinical patient safety environment without bias about brands. 

Charles J. Still, MBA, CPPS, CPHQ