GIVEN THE FDA FINAL RULE ON bar code label requirements, healthcare systems are under increasing pressure to upgrade technology and purchase bar code scanners. However, there are several factors that you may want to consider before sending in a purchase order. Taking the time to analyze the specific needs of your institution and finding a scanner that matches those needs will help ensure long-term satisfaction with this technology. To do this, first take a very close look at the application in which the scanner will be used—the most difficult step is figuring out the most efficient work process. Once this is established, you will want to determine what symbology will be used for the bar code, and what decoding capabilities you need. Certain scanners read certain symbologies differently, so a clear understanding of the various technologies and how they relate to the symbologies will help you make a good decision. Additionally, you will want to consider how the scanner will connect to your system, and how it will perform ergonomically. Once you have reviewed all of this, you will want to consider the
price and the important choice of your place of purchase.

Application
The first aspect to consider is the application in which your bar code scanner will be used. Are you going to be scanning patients’ wristbands, medication, shelf labels, fixed assets tags? Determining the application, or business process, will let you know if it is easier to present the bar code label to the scanner, or the scanner to the bar code label.

If it is easier to take the bar code label to the scanner, a simple corded scanner with a stand option or a fixed mount scanner will most likely be the best choice for you. In this case, the scanner is always on, and the user simply needs to present the bar code to the scanner. Many document tracking and filing applications use this method because it requires users to go to one common area to scan items.

If, however, it would be easier to take the scanner to the bar code, such as in scanning patients’ wristbands or scanning inventory, you should consider investing in a cordless scanner. This will allow to you walk up to 100 feet from your base station to scan the bar code. Often included in mobile cart solutions, a cordless scanner is ideal in many bedside applications.

Decoding Capabilities— What symbologies will you be reading?
While nearly all bar code scanners will decode basic symbologies such as Code 39 or UPC, other codes, such as two-dimensional bar codes, require special scanners. Examples of two-dimensional codes are PDF417 and Data Matrix, both of which are found in hospital applications.

The two-dimensional bar code offers a few important advantages. First, it can store more information than a linear bar code. The time, the date the sample was taken, the patient’s birthday, the expiration date of a medication, and other pertinent information can all be represented in a two-dimensional bar code. Second, the size can often be smaller than linear bar codes. For example, the entire Gettysburg Address can fit into a bar code the size of a postage stamp. This space saving can be important if you need to label individual doses or small containers such as test tubes.

In terms of the scanner itself, since all two-dimensional readers can also read one-dimensional bar codes, a two-dimensional reader may also be a good investment for your organization if you anticipate moving to two-dimensional bar codes in the future. Though it will most likely increase the cost of the reader now, it may save you a great deal of money in the future.

Scanning Technologies: Laser, CCD, and Imaging
There are three basic types of scanning technologies available today; laser, CCD (Charge Coupled Device), and imagers. Laser scanners are generally more expensive than CCD scanners, but can often be more efficient in their scanning ability. They can be designed to read bar codes from a great distance, allowing workers to scan items on the top shelf of a warehouse without having to move closer to the item. These scanners are also a better option when the bar code is not on a flat, hard surface or when having to read through glass. Most Laser scanners come with standard, longrange, and extra-long-range distance options. Finally, lasers can create omni-directional patterns, so it will read the bar code despite the direction the bar code is facing.

The biggest advantage of CCD scanners is that they are the least expensive of all models of scanners. However, the optimal situation to use a CCD scanner is in a clean operating environment in which the bar codes are on a smooth reflective surface and the amount of scanning that needs to be done is fairly minimal. A CCD scanner’s maximum read distance is about 12 inches, so caution must be used not to ask your CCD scanner to do more than it can.

Imaging technology takes a picture or image of the bar code and then reads the bar code based on that image. Imaging technology has made great strides in the past several years and has caught up to the speed and accuracy at which laser and CCD scanners read. It has a clear advantage when the quality of a bar code is poor, since the imager will automatically look over the entire height of the bar code to find a complete strand. A scanner using this technology also has the ability to read onedimensional and two-dimensional bar codes. In addition, imagers have no moving parts, making them less susceptible to breaking.

Now that you have decided what your application is, which symbology you are scanning, and you know the difference between laser, CCD, and imaging technology, it is time to pick out which features are most important to you.

Connectivity
Since most scanners have options to connect through RS232, USB, or keyboard wedge connections, this is not the biggest factor to consider when purchasing. However, it may be a consideration with older pieces of medical equipment that may be limited in the connection options.

Ergonomics
Another consideration when purchasing a scanner is the comfort level of the user. This is especially important for scan-intensive applications. Scanner ergonomics may not seem like a big issue, but manufacturers spend millions of dollars studying this.
Some manufacturers will place the trigger on the top of the scanner so that it is operated by your thumb while others have a trigger that is operated
by your index finger.

Price
Price is determined by many factors including all the variables mentioned above. In addition, price will be determined to some extent by the
quantity you are purchasing and the company you select to supply the scanners. Once you choose the options you need, chances are there will still be two or three different scanners to choose from, and no doubt price will then be a differentiating factor. However, if you look at price alone, you may miss the TCO or total cost of ownership. The TCO should be your overriding decision factor, not the scanner price alone.

Making the Purchase
There are three basic places to purchase a scanner and other bar code equipment: the manufacturer, an online superstore, or a valueadded-reseller (VAR).

Manufacturers who do sell direct, will often only sell a great quantity of product to very large accounts. If you need only ten scanners, for example, a manufacturer will direct you to a VAR. In addition, they will provide information only about their own products, leaving you to do your own investigation of competitive products.

An online superstore may generally have lower prices, and may have some information on different scanners, but you are basically on your own when choosing the type of scanner that you need. Also, they rarely provide any technical support or have the experience to guide you through the process.

A VAR, value-added-reseller, can provide information on the right scanner for your application, and can also provide the value-added services of assistance with installation, trouble-shooting, and upgrading your system. Furthermore, a good VAR will have previous experience with similar applications.

Bill Arban is the Director of Healthcare Sales for Barcoding, Inc. His professional experience includes general business consultation and sales and marketing in Auto ID/Data Collection. With his 16 years of Healthcare-specific expertise, he has provided turnkey software, hardware and service solutions to the hospital, pharmacy, home health care, and physicians sectors.