medical labels Archives - T&L Graphic Systems

Benefits of Custom Printed Labels for the Healthcare Field

December 19, 2016 By Doug Danosky

The right medical and healthcare label solutions can streamline your operations and provide your staff with easier workflows and processes. Self-stick labels are especially effective in fast-paced medical environments and can help your employees manage their duties more effectively. Here are some of the most important ways in which specialized medical labels can benefit your facility.

Added Productivity

Central service medical and healthcare label systems can help your clinic, hospital or patient care facility manage routine admitting and tracking tasks more easily. By printing labels for patient charts, medication allergies and other frequently needed alerts and reminders, you can help your staff manage their workflows and duties more effectively.

Increased Accuracy

Printed labels can help to eliminate mistakes in the healthcare environment. A clear and easy-to-read medical and healthcare label can go a long way toward reducing errors in the administration of medications and the overall treatment plan for your patients. By incorporating these label systems into your everyday routines, you can enhance the quality of care for your patients in the hospital, clinic or medical office setting. Custom labels can also be used for pharmaceutical supplies and medications stored in your medical facility to promote easier identification and retrieval of these essential items.

On-the-Spot Printing For Your Medical And Healthcare Label

Laboratory thermal labels are specifically designed for optimal flexibility and versatility in the healthcare field. These labels are available in an extensive array of configurations and can be used on all types of products, folders and equipment. Labels can even be applied to prescription bottles and equipment to provide further guidance on the proper use and dosage for these medical necessities. By opting for thermal labels, you and your colleagues can enjoy optimal convenience and flexibility when managing your labeling requirements in the medical environment.

A Safer Working Environment

Labels can also be used to maintain a safer working environment and to provide warnings for patients and staff about hazards in the healthcare field. By providing clear and easy-to-read labels on waste disposal containers, you can ensure that hazardous items are stored safely both on-site and on their way to the disposal facility. This can reduce the risk of accidents in your healthcare facility.

Working with an established custom label company can help you manage all aspects of your healthcare operations more easily and conveniently. By choosing a proven leader in the labeling industry, you can ensure the highest quality for these items. T&L Graphic Systems can create custom medical and healthcare labels designed to your precise specifications, allowing you to enjoy greater productivity and improved patient care throughout your medical facilities.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Medical Labels for Your Organization

August 17, 2016 By Doug Danosky

Scanning Medical Label Making sure that patient records are complete and accurate is essential in the healthcare industry. The right medical labels can play a significant role in ensuring patient health and safety in hospitals, clinics and private practices. Here are some of the most important factors to consider when selecting labels for your healthcare facilities.

Defining the Need

Performing a careful assessment of the workflows and processes already in place within your clinic, hospital or medical practice can help you to make the most effective use of your supply budget. Designing and purchasing labels that provide real help for your staff members can boost productivity and ensure the greatest accuracy when managing your medical label needs. By meeting with key members of your staff to determine the most essential labels for your operations, you can ensure that your money is well spent and that your new labels serve a valuable purpose within your organization.

Removable or Permanent Medical Labels?

Depending on the types of records you maintain in paper form, your medical facility may require removable labels, permanent labels or a combination of both:

• Removable labels can allow you to reuse folders and enclosures to reduce costs for these items. They are most useful in high-turnover facilities and clinics that do not require long-term retention of records in paper form. Additionally, removable labels can be used to indicate temporary conditions or care instructions that may not be applicable to the patient long-term.
• Permanent labels offer greater protection for patients by ensuring that valuable information remains with files and is not lost or misplaced during transfer of these paper records from one place to another. These labels are most useful in recording patient allergies, medical conditions and other key information necessary to provide top-quality healthcare services to patients.

Working with an established label company can help you decide whether removable or permanent labels are most suitable for your facility's needs.

A Wide Range of Labels for Medical Use

Customized label companies like T & L Graphic Systems can provide an extensive selection of products designed to your precise specifications, including the following:

• Medical imaging and radiology labels
• Biohazard labels for containers in hospitals, clinics and private practice examination rooms
• Admission labels for patient record folders
• Vial and IV labels
• Identification for laboratory testing materials
• Equipment labels for added safety in the medical environment

These items can provide the added help your staff members need to update patient records quickly and accurately and to maintain a high degree of productivity in the medical environment.

By entrusting your medical label needs to T & L Graphics Systems, you can be certain that your labels will meet the needs of your staff and your institution. We work with you to ensure that every aspect of your order is completed to your precise specifications, allowing you to proceed with confidence when purchasing from us.

How to “stick it” to label adhesion problems

March 29, 2016 By Doug Danosky

Adhesion is one of five big factors that can have a negative impact on label performance. Here are five label applications and the factors that can have a significant impact on label adhesion.

Labels can be successfully applied to nearly any surface: fabrics, film, vinyl, paper, plastics, glass, and more — but without the right adhesive, your label won’t stick. Containers that are exposed to hot or cold conditions during filling, rough and textured surfaces, small diameter and flexible packages can all cause edge peeling or worse.

Food labels

During the packaging process, some foods are injected into their containers at temperatures approaching 130-150° F. Care must be taken to select label stock and an adhesive that can beat the heat without experiencing edge lifting. Other types of food are packaged at low temperatures (25° F or less). An alternate temperature adhesive is recommended to prevent the label from separating from its package.

Flexible containers

Some products, such as motor oil, are packaged in flexible polyethylene containers that are quickly discarded after they are emptied of their contents. For this type of application, the label and adhesive must be able to withstand flexing and be low cost.

Rough and textured surfaces

When you’re specifying labels and adhesives for rough or textured surfaces, remember that only a fraction of the surface area of the label is making contact with the container. This can have a significant impact on the type of adhesive used.

Medical labels

Medical labels must be designed to fit on tight circumference objects, such as test tubes. This requires labels and adhesives with a certain degree of pliability. Also, in some cases, labels must be removable. These unique needs require special adhesives.

Steel drums

Large steel drums usually require big labels that not every label manufacturer can produce. Also, they are often exposed to environmental extremes – both heat and cold – as well as a variety of corrosive liquids that can affect their ability to remain adhered to the drums. There are specific materials designed for use on steel drums. Please contact us to learn more.

How to avoid adhesion problems

Plan your label in advance. Anticipate where it will be attached and what conditions the container is likely to encounter throughout its life cycle. Address these details during the design process to prevent production headaches later. Make sure your label provider clearly understands:

Exactly what your labeling application is,
What the label will be attached to, and
What conditions it must withstand.

Now that you have a better understanding of the ways in which adhesion can affect label life, why not download our new eGuide, How to Create the Perfect Label: The 5 Most Important Questions to Ask, to learn more about the other four factors.

Avoid These Environmental Label Fails

March 24, 2016 By Doug Danosky

Environmental label fails

The environment is one of five big factors that can have a negative impact on label performance.

Hot, cold and moist conditions can cause labels to peel, fall off, fade and smear. Exposure to everyday liquids or UV exposure may cause reactions with the color and adhesiveness of a label. In other cases, productivity and safety could be affected if product labels become damaged or aren’t clearly visible.

Here are four label applications and the types of environmental factors that can have a significant impact on label life:

Furniture Labels

In the furniture industry, labels are applied to various fabrics. Most furniture labels have very specific legal requirements: they must be made of specific materials, and they cannot come off or wear over time with use.

Medical and Pharmaceutical Labels

Medical and pharmaceutical labels must be created to adhere correctly to withstand today’s fast-paced modern medical environments. High quality medical labels can be designed to be tamper-resistant and/or fluid-resistant, as well as laminated and sealed to withstand a wide variety of medical environments.

Industrial, Shipping and Logistics Labels

Warehouse productivity is increased when logistics teams aren’t worried about malfunctioning labels. Industrial, shipping and logistics labels must be easily scannable and readable for streamlined processes and effective inventory control. Plus, you’ll need labels tough enough to withstand being handled and tossed around.

Other Labels

Chemicals in lotions, hand sanitizers, and other everyday products can cause reactions with the color and adhesiveness of a label. It’s important for your label to be able to stand up to these chemicals, as well as other environmental factors, especially if permanence is required.

If your product will be subject to sun exposure, you may want a UV label coating to seal and protect the print. As an added bonus, it will help the colors pop and draw more attention to the label.

If your label application requires extra security measures, thermochromatic inks and labels are another option. These labels change color when touched to ensure sensitive materials are never tampered with.

Conclusion

Plan your label in advance. Anticipate where it will be attached, and what environmental conditions that carrier is likely to encounter throughout its life cycle. Addressing these details during the design process will ensure a better overall experience with your label provider, and will help prevent production headaches later.

Now that you have a better understanding of the ways in which the environment can affect label life, why not download our new eGuide, How to Create the Perfect Label: The 5 Most Important Questions to Ask, to learn more about the other four factors.

The Role of Labels in the Modern Medical Industry

January 4, 2016 By Steve Danosky

Accurate and easy-to-read labeling is mission-critical in the medical environment. Working with a company with proven experience in healthcare and medical labeling can ensure that all items are marked appropriately and in accordance with regulatory standards. Manufacturers of medical labels like T&L Graphic Systems can create and deliver the solutions needed to stay in compliance with U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements and to assist health care personnel in managing their everyday duties to ensure compliance with the FDA. [Read more…]

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