Printing Technologies When selecting what type of printer to use to create your patient ID solutions, there are numerous factors to consider. Listed below are several of the key items that you should evaluate. Laser printers Because these devices are commonplace in hospitals they are popular for generating barcoded wristbands and labels. Important considerations are:

• Space requirements – If you have printers in place already, it’s easy to just outfit the devices with extra media trays to accommodate the new media. If not, you will need to find space for a moderately-sized device.
• Cost – If they’re already in place, there’s a minimal cost to add media trays. Otherwise, many good quality laser printers – including color lasers – are available for under $500. While HP and Lexmark dominate the market, other suppliers have developed excellent products that are finding their way into healthcare facilities more and more. Laser printers by companies like Brother, for example, are an excellent value.
• Print quality – Laser printers do an excellent job at printing barcodes, but it’s important to ensure that machines have enough toner and that they are serviced regularly. It’s also important to use the original manufacturer’s toner to be sure that the image quality is durable.
• Maintenance – users often appreciate the ease of loading media into a tray rather than changing thermal media rolls.

Thermal Printers

Thermal printers are excellent for print-on-demand media like wristbands and labels. Most healthcare users choose Direct Thermal technology rather than using Thermal Transfer due to the additional costs and patient information remaining on the ribbons that adds to HIPAA confidentiality concerns. Things to consider are:

• Space requirements – The footprint of most thermal printers used in hospitals today is very small, so having room for these devices is usually no problem.
• IT consideration – Since these devices are often deployed at the time barcoding is being implemented, IT will have to ensure that IP addresses are assigned to each device.
• Cost – Thermal printers are very economical with models available for several hundred dollars.
• Print quality – Thermal printers do an excellent job. Print images last for weeks when the proper media and print settings are employed.
• Maintenance – Users can quickly learn to change media rolls when they run out. Direct thermal printers have no ribbons to change, making user interaction painless.