In times of medical uncertainty, like the global Coronavirus pandemic we’re facing, it’s easy to overlook the common tools that contribute to keeping people protected and safe.
Printed labels are one of those important tools that often go unnoticed. From the lab to the clinic, to cleaning and sanitizing supplies, labeling plays a crucial role. When you need to know critical information, labels are a communication method you can depend on.
At T&L Graphics, we’re proud of the small-but-significant role we’re able to play in supporting medical professionals in the laboratory and on the frontlines of fighting the outbreak. Not only do we go above and beyond to meet our client needs, but through our essential work, we’ve supplied our clients with labels when they need them the most. It’s times like these that underscore why printed labels are so important and play a crucial role in patient health and safety.
Here’s why printed labels are more important than ever.
1. Labels Help Laboratories with Accuracy
Laboratories are on the frontlines of any fight against illness. From outbreaks to the flu season, to routine screening tests, labels help laboratories keep track of patient samples and convey important information to technicians. Mislabeled specimens are one of the most common yet preventable sources of errors in the medical field.
When a laboratory technician draws a sample, they affix a label with a bar code to track the specimen. This thermally printed label will accompany the sample through every phase of the journey, from the draw through the diagnostic laboratory tests.
2. Labels Keep Medical Staff Organized
In a busy clinic or emergency room, practitioners rely on the accurate messaging provided by medical labels. Our thermal labels are printed with bar-coded information that is uniquely assigned to each patient. With a simple scan, clinicians can access patient information as needed.
Printed medical labeling also ensures that pharmaceutical details are clearly printed and adhered to bottles. Warning and biohazard labels ensure that personnel follow safety protocols and provide patients with what they need when they need it the most. When there's no room for error, labels promote accuracy and organization.
3. Labels Stay in Place in Many Conditions
Thanks to special adhesives, our medical labels hold up to a variety of conditions, from the heat of the autoclave to chemical baths, cryogenics, and refrigeration. Labeling is critical to all aspects of testing and treatment. When you rely on a label, you need an adhesive that won’t budge!
Special coatings are available to protect labels from moisture, heat, and chemicals. UV coatings are treated with ultraviolet light to cure the protective varnish. These labels are used in medical laboratories, phlebotomy, critical care, and throughout the many steps of the diagnostic process.
4. Labels Help Keep Track While Protecting Privacy
Professionals rely on printed labels to convey information clearly and accurately. Easy-to-read, smudge-proof labels are crucial for patient care. But bar-coded labels also play an essential part in patient protection.
With thermal printing, a scannable barcode protects patient privacy and ensures that personal information is never exposed. Not only does label barcoding help clinicians track samples throughout the testing process, but labels ensure patient information is kept private.
Labels may not seem vital, but in a medical emergency, conveying accurate information is a matter of life and death. When you need information that you can rely on, printed labels deliver.
T&L applauds the many frontline workers who are battling to keep us safe and protected during times of medical crisis. We’re proud to assist workers with reliable printed labels to help them do their critical jobs. Contact us for all your printed label needs, including labels that will keep patients safe and withstand the harshest conditions.