C3: Handling Scan Failures

This guide will help users create a plan for addressing barcode scanning failures at the point of care.

Benefit

• Ensure continuity of operations in the event of a barcode scanning failure
• Reduce staff frustration.
• Reduce likelihood of repeat scanning failures by identifying and addressing the root cause.

Who Should be Involved:

• Clinical Staff from the area that will be scanning at the point of care
• Supply Chain (purchasing, item master maintenance, and inventory management)
• Information Technology
• Party responsible for the scanners

Topic areas to be included in the Plan:

Role of the Clinical Staff

• Who is responsible for reporting the problem and when
• To whom do they report the problem
• How do they report the problem (e.g., email, phone call)
• What information do they report
• Process for continuing clinical documentation

Role of the Supply Chain Staff

• Who and how is the problem validated (e.g., a damaged label, printing quality of barcode, barcode format, scanner programming, training issue, etc.)
• What actions should be taken to resolve the issue based on the cause of the problem.
• Process for validating the scanners are correctly calibrated
• Process for reporting the problem to the manufacturer and if necessary, the FDA

Feedback Loop

Examples

Click here to listen to X, Y and Z share the benefits they have received from scanning at the point of care.