How to Lessen the Burden on Healthcare Providers

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healthcare automation and mobility

One of the biggest lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic has been the need to ease the burden on our healthcare providers, not just by trying to keep them safe and prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed, but by doing whatever we can to make their job easier.

One way that our team at SK&T has been helping healthcare systems do that is by further automating and mobilizing all the mission-critical workflows that go into patient care.

There are many ways we can do this and build on previous efforts to streamline, digitize, and optimize care delivery for better efficiency and better patient outcomes. In this article, we’ll take a look at a few quick examples, how they work, and how they help our healthcare providers can get more done with less effort and stress.

Arguably the best strategy for minimizing the burden on our healthcare providers is to equip nurses, physicians, and staff with mobile computing technologies and smart badges so they can quickly and securely access EMRs and patient records, communicate in real-time and manage and coordinate care, all with touch-enabled workflows that save time and effort at every stage.

A good example is Zebra’s TC52-HC healthcare mobile computer, which is an Android touch screen device that delivers octa-core processing power, high-speed Wi-Fi, and access to EMRs, alerts, voice, secure texting, and other tools at lightning speed. Devices like these are a great way to save time and effort by making mobile workflows as intuitive, seamless, and efficient as possible.

When the TC52-HC is paired with a smart badge and single sign-on software, staff can simply tap their badge to authenticate their identities and start securely using all the apps they need, even on a device that’s disinfected and shared with other staff on the next shift. The next user can simply tap their badge with the same integration, and the previous user is automatically signed out, and they’re signed in and can get to work right away.

Another simple way to make life and work a bit easier, especially for busy nurses and technicians, is to switch from traditional barcode scanners to small, compact, and wearable companion scanners. Devices such as Zebra’s CS60-HC healthcare companion scanner are small, lightweight, yet durable devices that nurses or technicians can place in a pocket or wear on a lanyard.

Despite their small size, these devices capture virtually any 1D or 2D barcode in any condition, even if a barcode is smudged, dirty, or poorly printed. They also easily pair wirelessly via Bluetooth with other devices such as mobile computers. This makes them great for nurses or technicians on the go because they can be freed from carrying cumbersome devices or having to rely on carts and mobile workstations to wheel devices around.

C60-HC scanners are also the first of their kind to offer a corded option as well. If you prefer, you can switch them from wireless to corded by simply connecting them to other devices with an optional USB cable. This means you can use these mini devices as a hands-free presentation scanner on a cart or workstation and not just as a handheld device.

Of course, since they’re designed for healthcare, they’re also made with disinfectant-ready plastics and a physical design that helps eliminate places where germs can potentially hide. They also have patient-friendly day and night modes, with options to choose between audible or haptic vibration for scanning feedback, and Zebra’s Direct Decode Indicator projects illumination onto the barcode to make sure it can be read in dim conditions.

Another way to simplify workflows for healthcare providers is to streamline admissions and help eliminate errors in patient care, medication, and specimen tracking by creating more automated identification and tracking systems.

You can do this with basic components such as barcoded patient ID wristbands and barcoding scanning, but you can also get more sophisticated by deploying mobile apps that help automate your specimen and medication tracking, a chain of custody, and your pickups and deliveries for labs and pharmacies. These days, there are proven healthcare apps for streamlining and error-proofing everything from medication tracking to supplies management and medical courier operations, so now is an ideal time to explore options and look for every area where you can leverage these solutions to reduce or eliminate manual and labor-intensive processes.

Some hospitals are taking technology a step further by using RFID to wirelessly track patients and their locations as they move through the admissions process and toward emergency surgeries where timing, coordination, and accurate patient identification are crucial.

Providers and staff can be automatically alerted to the status and location of incoming patients, even before they arrive at the hospital and then at key checkpoints along the way, using RFID readers and antennas that read and detect RFID-enabled patient ID wristbands with radio signals as they move past the readers.

Automation and tracking strategies like these can add up to a big difference in reducing the overall effort required to track patients. And there are numerous other potential RFID applications involving tracking of at-risk patients who might wander, quickly locating and tracking medical equipment and supplies when they’re needed, and automating inventory management by eliminating the need for item-by-item and physical barcode scans to track assets.

These are just some of the ways that hospitals are using mobility and automation to reduce the burden on our frontline healthcare workers and create better efficiency at a time when it’s needed most. But there are many more potential strategies and solutions to consider.

To learn more and find out about strategies, case studies, and solutions to tackle your biggest healthcare challenges, connect with our team at SK&T, and let’s start a conversation about how our technology experts can help.

The One Strategy Every Manufacturer Should Consider Right Now

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The past year has been one of the most challenging we’ve ever seen in the manufacturing sector, particularly with the unique convergence of several major trends and issues that are making it harder and tougher to meet production goals and meet customer demand.

Whether it’s been dealing with plant shutdowns, disruptions, and labor shortages due to COVID-19, or struggling to keep up with surging product demand despite shortages of materials and components as well as disruptions to the supply chain, manufacturers are having to adapt to unprecedented difficulties.

But every time we’re faced with a prolonged period of historic challenges and changes, it’s always important to keep in mind that it’s also a major business opportunity.

In every economic disruption, downturn, or upheaval, there are winners and losers, and the winners seize on the chance to be smart, to innovate and change the way they do things, and come out ahead by turning a series of negatives into positives and competitive advantages.

For example, during the 2009 Great Recession, 10% of companies saw their earnings climb steadily, and 9% of them not only recovered during the three years afterward, but they outperformed their competitors by at least 10% in sales growth and profit.

What allowed them to make these gains while so many other companies were losing or fighting to recover?

According to Bain & Company, which conducted one of the studies of these downturn winners, there were a number of factors, including being better prepared, exercising financial discipline, and making good decisions. But one of the biggest factors was technology.

By deploying new technologies that helped them improve efficiency, cut costs, and increase agility at a time when other companies were struggling, the recession winners figured out ways to move faster, simplify business processes, and make positive changes as well as continuous improvements.

As Bain partners, Tom Holland and Jeff Katzin put it, “winners can deploy new technologies coupled with cost management tools such as supply chain reinvention, complexity reduction, and zero-based budgeting to change the game.”

McKinsey senior partner Katy George also endorses technology as a key tool in adapting to fast-changing circumstances and market conditions. “Technologies create much more flexibility around product changes, volume changes, as well as the movement of your supply chain,” she says.

In manufacturing, there are many ways we can use technology to create this kind of flexibility while also boosting productivity, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. In every area of plant floor and warehouse operations, there are ways to automate and optimize workflows and tasks, minimize labor requirements and costs, and create a more efficient and accurate supply chain.

For example, while most manufacturers use barcoding and/or mobile computing technologies in the warehouse to manage and track their inventory, relatively few have taken the opportunity to invest in multi-modal voice-directed mobile technologies that allow them to take their order and material picking to an entirely new level.

As an example, using voice-directed picking software running on a wrist-worn mobile computer, combined with a finger-worn ring barcode scanner and a headset, warehouse workers can pick orders and material far more efficiently, with voice and/or visual commands that cue each pick, direct them along the most efficient routes to the correct warehouse location, and then verify the correct picks with a barcode scan, all while keeping their hands free to handle inventory.

Similarly, in production operations, Zebra has launched new fixed industrial scanners and machine vision cameras that automatically track and trace components, assemblies, and finished products as they move through production processes. These devices help count, sort and route them along the right pathways, and they can check products for defects, inconsistencies, contaminants, labeling and packaging problems, or an array of other potential quality issues.

In the receiving area and for assembly lines and line-side replenishment, we’ve helped many of our manufacturing clients automate and error-proof their inbound receiving and processing, using Zebra’s RFID, barcode scanning, and mobile computing solutions.

With automated data capture and mobile workflows at key process stages like these, workers and managers can be alerted when new materials or components arrive, when incorrect materials or components are stages, or when items need to be replenished to keep production processes moving.

For example, in the receiving area, RFID and barcoding solutions can be used to quickly and accurately identify and process materials when they arrive and help automate the put-away process with intelligent and precise routing to the correct locations.

In assembly, Zebra fixed industrial scanners can scan and verify that the correct parts are loaded on a conveyor and automatically sort and route them according to the correct destination line and process. At key stages in the production process, RFID tags can be used to remotely verify that the correct parts or components have been brought and staged for a given process, and automated exception alerts can be triggered when the wrong item is detected.

These are just a few examples of the many ways that manufacturers can use technologies to boost automation, efficiency, and accuracy at a time when we need to figure out how to do more with less and how to meet changing demands and supply chain realities. By making smart investments and deploying scalable technologies that can automate more of what we do and take more of the manual labor and potential human error out of the process, we can cut time and cost while also freeing us up to retrain and redeploy our workforce in areas where they’re needed most.

Most importantly, we can get out of a purely reactive mode and into a more proactive approach that helps us turn a tough time and tough circumstances into an opportunity to actually make gains and come out a winner.

If that’s something you’d like to do in your manufacturing operations, then now is a good time to be thinking about technology. And it’s a good time to reach out to a technology provider to explore your needs in detail, identify opportunities to leverage technology to your advantage, and figure out the best strategies you should consider.

To learn more and get started, reach out to our manufacturing technology experts at SK&T, and we’d be happy to help.

A Digital Starter Kit for Better Patient Safety

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Previously on our blog, we’ve talked a lot about patient safety. But with COVID-19 still raging and new variants of the coronavirus dominating the headlines, it’s easy to lose sight of the bigger picture with patient safety, where protecting patients is a big undertaking that involves a lot of processes and efforts that need to be optimized.

While we’ve been battling COVID infection rates and death totals, some other alarming numbers have been in play, and they point to how important it is to make sure we’re not just protecting patients from viruses but also protecting them from identification, medication, and specimen errors that can prove harmful and fatal as well.

For example, 1.3 million people are still injured annually due to medication administration errors. And 64% if clinicians say a patient is misidentified “very frequently” or “all the time” in a typical medical facility.

Over 160,000 patient specimens are erroneously labeled each year and lead directly to adverse patient incident. And 13% of all surgical mistakes are completely avoidable cases directly related to errors in patient identification.

These sobering and startling numbers underscore the importance of always trying to improve our patient safety procedures and systems, and one of the best ways to do that it is go digital. Ideally, we need to have digital patient identification, tracking, labeling and other workflows in place to minimize the possibility of human error from eliminate manual processes that can lead to catastrophic mistakes.

For many healthcare providers, the prospect of digitizing and helping automate patient identification and patient care can be daunting, particularly if you’re still relying on a mix of both manual and technology-driven processes and you have budget limitations or competing priorities for innovation and improvements.

But it’s relatively simple and affordable to immediately improve patient safety with what our team at SK&T calls a digital starter kit.

The Zebra Digital Starter Kit for Patient Safety Improvement

Our digital starter kit for better patient safety is centers on Zebra purpose-built healthcare technologies and solutions for patient identification and healthcare tracking. These solutions are our top-recommended choices for identification, verification and tracking of patients, medication, specimens, equipment, and more.

For example, we often recommend a basic Zebra kit of solutions that can be used throughout the continuum of care, starting with patient identification at admission and extending all the way through final discharge. Here are the basic components of the kit:

ZD510-HC Wristband Printers

Zebra’s ZD510-HC healthcare wristband printers are the simplest and most effective solution on the market for quickly printing patient ID wristbands. The ZD510-HC uses pop-in cartridges and auto-calibration to match each wristband size and make the loading and printing process incredibly fast and easy.

The printer also features a disinfectant-ready and UV-resistant housing for safe cleaning and protection against germs and bacteria, which is great for helping keep every safe, including patients and staff alike.

Zebra Z-Band® Patient ID Wristbands

Zebra’s Z-Band patient ID wristbands are our top recommendation for fast and easy patient wristband printing as well as positive and accurate patient identification.

Z-Bands are direct thermal-printed wristbands you can print easily and then safely secure to a patient’s wrist. The whole process takes under a minute, and Z-Bands are also made to withstand exposure to harsh hand sanitizers, ensuring that labels and patient information remain easily readable and scannable after cleaning.

Z-Bands come in a variety of sizes from infants to adults, and there are also Latex-free designs and options to protect sensitive skin.

Zebra QLN420 Mobile Printers or ZQ/ZD Series Desktop Printers

Zebra’s QLN mobile and compact ZQ and ZD series desktop printers are great for fast and on-demand label printing on hospital carts, at nursing workstations, and in laboratories and pharmacies.

With these printers, your staff can quickly label, identify and start tracking specimens as well as medications and match them with patient IDs and records. Zerba’s printers are also rugged and drop-resistant with medical-grade designs and flexible Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity for easy pairing with other devices or to connect to your network.

TC5x Series Mobile Computers

To scan barcode labels, track specimens and medications, and run the EHRs and software applications you use for identification, patient records and tracking, Zebra’s TC5x mobile computers provide an ideal all-in-one productivity device.

The TC5x Series provides fast and accurate 1D/2D barcode capture using Zebra’s advanced scanning algorithms, which speed up the scanning process and ensure first-time data capture, even when barcodes are damaged, smudged or poorly printed.

You also get enterprise-grade computer processing power, memory, and extended hot-swappable battery life so you can use your devices for long healthcare shifts or even multiple shifts. And it all comes in a sleek and smartphone-style device with a Gorilla Glass touch screen and casing built for the rigors of all-day, every day use, with optional accessories to add additional durability.

Specialized Healthcare Labels and Printing Supplies

To further error-proof patient care, it’s also a good idea to make sure you’re using the right barcode labels and printing supplies in certain areas where standard barcode labels can cause major problems.

Here are a few examples of common areas where labeling issues can create patient safety risks.

Phlebotomy Collection

Collecting and accurately identifying blood samples is often plagued by errors during manual identification of “stat” samples that need quick testing within an hour or less.

Since many healthcare facilities don’t have an easy way to identify these samples on a barcode label, it creates opportunities for identification and timing errors. If a sample is misidentified, lost, or a test doesn’t happen on time, you can end up having to do a re-draw and re-test.

Fortunately, you can automate phlebotomy collection and stat sample tracking with Zebra’s direct thermal IQ Color 2000D paper labels. These labels have colorful “tabs” that make samples immediately visible and identifiable, and you can activate the right color by using pre-printed labels with invisible inks that are activated on-demand during the label printing process.

Blood Bag Identification

Two common issues often occur with blood bag labeling for blood banks, and they involve labels fading from exposure to moisture and blood being contaminated by label adhesives that leach through blood bags.

By using Zebra’s thermal transfer 8000T primary blood bad polyethylene labels with Zebra’s 3200 wax/resin ribbon, you can put an end to both problems. Zebra’s uses specialized label adhesive to ensure that it doesn’t leach through the bag and contaminate the blood. And the label’s polypropylene material is resistant to moisture so it remains readable throughout its use.

Microscope Slide Labeling

Microscope slides for medical testing are another area where barcode labels can create problems. Contact with stains and Xylene during testing can cause labels to fall off the microscope slide or cause the image to fade and become unreadable and unscannable.

However, Zebra has created a thermal transfer Z-Xtreme 5000T polyester label and an image lock resin ribbon specifically for microscope slides.

The labels are pre-tested to ensure resistance to stains, Xylene and other chemicals used in the testing process, so your labels remain identifiable, readable and scannable. The image lock cartridge resin ribbon is available for use with Zebra’s ZD420-C printer, enabling quick and easy installation of your thermal ribbon.

Asset Tracking

Equipment isn’t always the first thing we think of in terms of patient safety risks, but assets such as wheelchairs, test equipment, beds and other items are frequently in high demand and needed in specific locations to ensure prompt and effective treatment, comfort and care.

I you don’t know where the right equipment or assets are, and you can’t get them to the right place at the right time, your patients could end up at risk. Also, if you can’t easily identify and track your equipment for inventory and to perform maintenance to keep it in good working order, this can create additional problems and headaches.

However, by using Zebra’s ZT411 RFID printer and printing and applying specialized Silverline RFID labels and tags to track metal equipment and other items, you can locate and track required medical devices and equipment remotely.

Since RFID uses wireless radio waves to identify, locate and track assets, there’s no need to conduct a visual search or scan a barcode to confirm the identity of the right item.

By installing Zebra fixed RFID readers and antennas in strategic locations throughout your facility, you can track equipment automatically as it moves from place-to-place, so you’ll always having an automated and accurate record of its last location. And the right RFID implementation, with the right devices, tags and coverage, will ensure your solution works seamlessly, even in hospital environments.

This can save your staff endless hours of searching for equipment and help you keep everything in the right place and well-maintained for on-demand use. And, most importantly, you can make sure the right equipment can be quickly retrieved or placed in the right place at the right time to ensure patient safety and timely, proper care.

To learn more about our digital starter kit for better patient safety, connect with our team at SK&T. As experts in healthcare identification, tracking and automation technologies, we can help you determine the best solutions for your patient care needs and take the right steps to improve safety throughout the continuum of care.

Contact SK&T for more info! info@skandt.com 

Mobile Printing Solves A Problem You Didn’t Know You Had

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Did you know you are spending up to twice as much on labor on your Receiving Dock as you should be? Or that the error rates on your labeling in Receiving could be 10x what they should be?

Read more

Here’s Why You Need Enterprise Mobile Computers

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Adoption of mobile technology continues to accelerate across the healthcare sector, with more and more organizations choosing to equip as many caregivers and staff as possible with mobile devices. Two goals are driving this transformation. First, of course, is the desire to ensure the right patient receives the right care at the right time by connecting caregivers to the data and resources they need in real time. Second, mobile solutions can help healthcare organizations streamline workflows to save both time and money.

But what about the devices they’re choosing to do the job? Can consumer-grade smartphones really match the performance and ROI of enterprise-class mobile computers over the long haul?

The short answer is no, healthcare providers should not expect consumer-grade devices to deliver the performance and value they need. Instead, most providers should focus their mobile solutions on enterprise-class devices that are purpose-built for healthcare applications.

So, what’s the difference between consumer and enterprise devices? Let’s take a brief look at three factors.

1. Enterprise-class devices have a much longer service life.

We’re all familiar with the frequent upgrade cycles of consumer smartphones, eagerly anticipating the newest and greatest model every 12 to 18 months. And that’s no accident: consumer-grade devices are designed for short lifecycles and rapid obsolescence to drive a never-ending cycle of upgrades. But that’s a terrible fit for any device that’s used in a business environment. You can’t base your ROI expectations on mobile computers that will be obsolete in two years.

Enterprise-class devices like the mobile computers made by Zebra are designed to remain in service much longer. They use the Android operating system, with the promise of regular updates and uninterrupted support for 10 years or longer. So, instead of replacing devices every few years, you can keep pace with the latest technology through simple upgrades that are much easier to incorporate into your existing workflows.

2. Enterprise-class devices are engineered for durability.

Increased durability and reduced downtime are probably the most immediate things that healthcare organizations will benefit from when they base their mobility solutions on enterprise-class devices. That’s simply because enterprise-class devices are designed for full-shift usage in workplace environments.

For instance, Zebra’s TC52-HC Mobile Computer packs all the mobile computing, clinical collaboration, and data capture features caregivers need into a device that is designed to withstand frequent exposure to common disinfectants and is tested for drop and tumble performance, and rated for use in practically any environmental conditions, including extreme temperatures and humidity.

3. Enterprise-class devices are easier to manage.

One of the big red flags of choosing consumer-grade devices for your business is that eventually you’re going to be faced with the challenge of managing security patches, OS updates, and applications across a patchwork of different models. You’ll also have to figure out how to standardize everything from Wi-Fi configuration and update settings to display and sound defaults. That’s a time-consuming task when you’re talking about consumer devices that are designed for easy personalization rather than consistency across business uses.

Enterprise-class mobile computers from Zebra are much easier to integrate into a mobile device management system, which will greatly reduce your IT workloads. You’ll have a standardized approach to security and updates, and your IT team will easily be able to integrate every enterprise device into a mobile device management system that streamlines device configuration, OS updates, and installation of your business applications.

Don’t Compromise on Your Mobility Solutions

You have a range of mobile device options but its critical to choose carefully if you want to minimize disruptions and maximize ROI from your technology investments. Consumer-grade devices may offer relatively low acquisition costs, but they risk sabotaging your investment in mobility solutions over the long run.

SK&T has decades of experience designing, deploying and supporting mobility solutions. Contact us today to learn more about Zebra’s industry-leading lineup of enterprise mobile computers for healthcare applications.

When to upgrade mobile computers…5 Signs it’s Time to Upgrade Your Mobile Computers

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Outdated mobile computers being replaced by newer devices from Zebra Technologies and Honeywell.

Technology evolves at a remarkable rate, with an endless stream of new features that enhance performance, ease-of-use, and reliability. This holds true for everything from barcode scanners and desktop printers to mobile computers and tablets.

If you’ve been relying on the same mobile computers for many years, it’s natural to wonder if an upgrade might make sense. So, here’s a quick look at five reasons to upgrade your mobile computers.

1. When it’s broken.
Let’s start with an easy one: Being stuck in a break/fix cycle is an obvious indicator that you should upgrading your mobile computers. It’s impossible to plan workflows around disabled mobile devices, and the downtime and lost productivity alone are probably impacting your bottom line. So, when the ongoing cost to repair and support devices that are nearing their end of service begins to add up and unreliability impacts operations, it’s time to upgrade.

2. End of Windows CE support.
This is another easy one: Microsoft ended support for most Windows Embedded handheld devices in 2018. And, while its tempting to try to wring the last ounce of productivity out of obsolete devices, it’s the equivalent of flying blind, because these devices won’t receive any further bug fixes or security updates. That poses a real threat to the security of your networks and data. Don’t run unnecessary security risks: upgrading to new Android mobile computers will protect your systems for many years.

3. Your devices are holding back your operations.
This is pretty general advice that usually falls into the “you’ll know it when you see it” category. Maybe battery performance can’t keep up with the demands of a full shift. Maybe you can’t get the accessories you need to support new workflows. Perhaps your existing mobile computers are just too slooooow. There are a lot of potential symptoms, but if you suspect your devices are hurting productivity or limiting your options, it might be time to consider an upgrade.

4. You’ve been using consumer-grade devices.
Congratulations, you’ve dodged a bullet. There’s a big difference between consumer-grade devices that are designed to be obsolete in 18 to 24 months and enterprise mobile computers that are engineered to deliver up to a decade of reliable service. So, quit running unnecessary risks and upgrade to enterprise mobile computers that are more durable, more reliable, and have a much longer service life than consumer products. Your IT department will thank you because enterprise devices are much easier to manage and support. Your CFO will thank you, too, because enterprise mobile computers will generate a much better ROI over the long run.

5. You need better security in your devices.
When you consider network and data security, you should think beyond the data that resides on mobile devices and consider every mobile computer as a possible tool for hackers. An old, outmoded device is much less likely to be capable of fending off a modern-day attack and vulnerabilities could allow it to be used as a gateway to breach your network and servers. Upgrading to new mobile computers will bring your security tools inline with the latest standards and get your devices into a regular cycle of updates that will do a much better job of protecting your data and systems.

SK&T partners with Zebra Technologies to bring you mobile computers that enable your staff to increase efficiency and raise their performance. Contact us today to learn more about Zebra’s lineup of enterprise mobile computers.

How to Boost User Adoption to Ensure Success When You Deploy New Technology Solutions

Committing to a transformation of major business processes is a big step. The initial needs assessments and preliminary system designs alone will require time and resources. The up-front costs of new hardware and software are primary concerns, as are the overhead resources needed to deploy and integrate new tools. And you’ll likely be adopting some new workflows to capture the benefits of your technology investments, so that’s another aspect to plan for. Add it up, and you’re probably making a significant investment in time, money and resources.

So, your new systems and tools better work as well as (or better) than expected if you’re going to achieve the ROI you’re aiming for. That puts a premium on training and user adoption: You can’t expect maximum benefits from new tools if users are slow to adopt them or if the training needed to put them into use is ineffective.

Fear that it will be difficult to convince users to adopt new tools is a common concern for IT departments, but there are some strategies that will help you simplify training, accelerate user adoption, and quickly achieve positive ROI when you put new tools in place.

Choose Hardware That’s Actually Designed for Rapid Adoption

The most obvious step to take to encourage use of new technology is to start with tools that are engineered for ease of deployment, ease of use, and ease of management. One of the key reasons we recommend Zebra barcode scanners, printers, mobile computers, and rugged tablets is that they utilize intelligent designs that are proven to ease user adoption.

For example, the more familiar the operating system, the faster users will get to know the capabilities of the new devices. If users aren’t comfortable with the way a device works, they won’t get the full benefit of what it can do. Zebra’s innovative enterprise mobile computers rely on the Android operating system. Since Android is the world’s most popular OS, it’s already familiar to most of your workforce, which means Zebra’s mobile computers require less training on the basics, and users are easily be able to access the functions they need.

Choose the Right Training Partner

If even one person fails to adopt the new technology because they don’t understand how to use it, it’s going to disrupt your workflows and make it hard to receive full ROI from your investment. That means you need a training plan that will guarantee every impacted worker knows how to use the new solution.

Even businesses that have a dedicated training staff struggle to develop and execute effective training programs when new technology is introduced. That’s simply because in-house trainers didn’t build the solution and they usually don’t have a deep level of expertise with the tools. This is when it makes sense to rely on external training resources, including your technology partner and the OEM. Bringing solution experts like SK&T or Zebra into the training equation will instantly skew the odds of a successful rollout in your favor.

The beauty of this approach is that nobody has deeper product knowledge than an OEM like Zebra, and they have a learning services team that specializes in a “train the trainer” approach that gives you a proven framework of training tools and support.

Involve Employees at the Start

Selling workers on the value of a new technology solution usually begins long before the hardware is selected. Nothing improves your chances for widespread and rapid adoption than giving employees a sense of ownership in the solution. It’s critical to involve employees in the process right from the start. Let them help define the solution by asking them to detail the problems they’re having with existing tools. Then make sure they’re involved in pilot programs so they can provide valuable feedback on early training efforts.

It’s also critical to communicate expectations throughout the entire process, from initial assessments right through rollout of the new tools. The key is to help employees understand why you’re making changes and how those changes align with their goals and interests. Demonstrate how new technology will make workers’ jobs easier or show them how they’ll acquire valuable skills, and it will be much easier to get them to buy-in.

SK&T and Zebra can show you how to increase adoption of innovative technology solutions that can make a big impact on your bottom line. Contact SK&T to learn more.

Why It’s Time to Upgrade Your Barcode Scanners

From positive patient identification and medication administration to electronic medical record access and inventory management, there are many applications for barcode scanners in healthcare. Caregivers work with them in patient rooms, nurses’ stations, the pharmacy, lab, and other settings throughout every shift. A scanner that delivers trouble-free results improves efficiency and streamlines workflows, but one that’s hard to use or unreliable can cause serious problems. That makes it critical to ensure that your barcode scanners are fully up to every task.

Today, manufacturers such as Zebra engineer and build barcode scanners that are purpose-built for healthcare environments and applications. The latest models are packed with performance-boosting features that can enhance productivity and reliability. They almost always scan faster, more accurately, and at longer ranges than older models. So, if your existing scanners have been on the job for a while or just aren’t delivering the results you need, here are some benefits of upgrading to consider.

Easier to clean

In healthcare settings, it’s always been critical to keep devices clean to prevent the spread of infection, but that’s really come into focus during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since barcode scanners are often used by several different staff members throughout a single shift or shared by caregivers across multiple shifts, a key consideration should be how well the device stands up to frequent cleaning when they’re used in healthcare applications,

That’s why Zebra’s healthcare scanners feature a purpose-built housing that helps offer protection against the spread of bacteria. Some include a crevice-free surface that helps eliminate places where germs can hide, and every Zebra healthcare scanner features durable materials that are engineered not just for heavy duty cycles, but also to withstand repeated exposure to common antiseptic cleaners.

Longer battery life

Cordless barcode scanners offer a lot of convenience, but the benefits disappear if the battery can’t keep up through an entire shift. In fact, one of the top reasons to consider upgrading your cordless scanners is simply because the batteries don’t perform.

Today’s newest healthcare scanners are designed with long-lasting batteries that far outperform previous generation devices. For example, Zebra’s cordless DS8178-HC comes standard with a PowerPrecision battery that’s capable of capturing over 75,000 barcodes in a single charge. That’s a lot of wristbands, specimen labels, and medical records!

More adaptability

Over time, your workflows change; if you’re barcode scanners don’t offer the flexibility or performance needed to keep up with the changes, it’s probably time to consider an upgrade.

You’ll find that next-generation scanners are often packed with features that make them easy to adapt and integrate into your everyday processes. Cordless options really open up the possibilities to improve workflows and maximize efficiency. And simple features like the ability to mount the scanner on a mobile workstation or a built-in work light that eliminates the need to switch on the lights in a darkened patient room can make a big impact on usability. Many of the latest scanners also offer advanced options, like adding radio frequency identification (RFID) capability, that you might not find on older models.
Zebra CS60-HC Healthcare Series Companion Scanner

The Zebra CS60-HC barcode scanner is a great example of the options available when you upgrade to the latest barcode scanning technology. It offers an ultra-versatile platform that easily adapts to any clinician workflow. The groundbreaking design easily converts between corded and cordless operation and can be used in handheld or hands-free applications. That makes it the high-performance scanner you can buy today with the ability to meet new workflow challenges tomorrow.

Also, since Zebra’s CS60-HC scanner is suited to a wide range of healthcare applications, you won’t need to purchase different models for different applications. That will simplify the accessories you need, make it easier for your IT staff to configure and manage the scanners, and lower your operational costs.

SK&T has the expertise and insight needed to help you evaluate all of your barcode scanning solutions. Contact us today to learn more about Zebra’s industry-leading lineup of purpose-built healthcare scanners.

Get it Together: Zebra Solutions for Ambulatory Surgery Centers and Healthcare Clinics

Small healthcare facilities like ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) and clinics have most of the same technology needs as large hospitals, just on a smaller scale. Workflows such as admitting and identifying patients, accessing and updating health records, collecting samples, and dispensing medications are common at every level of the healthcare industry.

When it comes to technology, the big difference between large organizations like hospitals and smaller facilities like ASCs isn’t really the technology, it’s the resources that are available to manage that technology. The limited IT and administrative resources available in smaller facilities puts a huge premium on solutions that are easy to deploy, easy to use, and easy to manage.

One way to minimize technology challenges and make the most of available IT resources in smaller healthcare facilities is to look for a partner and supplier that can cover all the bases. Using products that share a common ecosystem can smooth out the bumps in everything from training to security updates and make it much easier to enable staff collaboration. That’s why SK&T works so closely with Zebra: we know that Zebra offers end-to-end technology solutions that are purpose-built to stand up to the rigors of busy healthcare environments of any size

Here’s a quick outline of some of the key use cases Zebra products can help you address.

Positive Patient Identification:
Zebra’s patient identification solutions allow you to access and confirm essential patient information from admission to discharge. In fact, patient identification is a perfect example of the way Zebra’s solutions tie everything together, from wristbands and printers, to barcode scanners and mobile computers. The net result is a comprehensive patient identification solution that enhances patient safety, improves clinical workflows, and reduces costs.

Streamline Scanning:
Zebra offers the industries most complete lineup of data capture devices that re purpose-built for healthcare applications. From fixed and handheld scanners to mobile computers and rugged tablets that offer advance scanning capabilities, Zebra has a scanning solution that’s a perfect fit at the admissions desk, in operating rooms, at the patient’s bedside, in the lab, or in the pharmacy.

Flawless Specimen Collection:
Mislabeled specimens risk patient safety and can result in misdiagnosis or incorrect treatment. With Zebra’s solutions, healthcare workers can print labels right at the point of care and perform a three-point check that confirms the links between specimen collection order, the patient wristband, and the labeled container. The key is the seamless operation that results when you combine Zebra’s mobile or desktop printers with mobile computers that share a common ecosystem—it’s just easier to use tools that are designed to work together.

Accurate Medication Administration:
Zebra devices give you the ability to scan a patient’s wristband and medication for instant verification the patient is receiving the right medication and the right time, every time. The scanners are fast, easy to use, and ultra-reliable even when scanning barcodes that are damaged or obscured, making it possible to spot errors before medication is administered.

Increase Pharmacy Efficiency:
Zebra printers, scanners and mobile devices help streamline paperwork and eliminate manual processes to save time and money in the pharmacy. There are compact printer models that are designed to fit into even the most crowded pharmacy workstations and at the point of sale, making it fast and convenient to print labels and receipts. And hands-free barcode scanners can quickly verify accuracy to reduce the possibility of human error.

To learn more about Zebra’s printers, barcode scanners, and mobile computers for small healthcare facilities, contact the experts at SK&T. Download this white paper to learn more about ASC and Zebra products.

SK&T is a family-owned business. When you work with us, you become part of the family. Our top priority will be to create an innovative solution that that will help you save money while also improving the efficiency of your day-to-day operations.

Let’s Talk Security & Your Network Devices

Software Connectivity

Some striking statistics from the IBM/Ponemon Institute “Cost of a Data Breach Report 2020”.

$3.86 Million – Average Total Cost to recover from a breach.

$7.13 Million = Healthcare’s Average Total Cost per Attack – Highest industry cost

280 days – Average time to identify and contain

 

Nearly 28% of the data breaches in 2020 involved small businesses. The top patterns criminals are using to attack small businesses are web applications and miscellaneous errors. These represent 70% of the breaches. The threat actors who are perpetrating these crimes come mostly from external sources at 74%. Internal sources make up 26%.1

 

What motivates hackers when it comes to small and medium businesses? Not surprisingly, financial gains still remain the top motivation – in the ballpark of 83% of the attacks on small and medium businesses are financially motivated. While attacking small to medium businesses isn’t as lucrative or public as going after large enterprises, they do represent a less protected, more vulnerable target. When it comes to enterprises and large corporations, there are teams of professionals that code, program, and work around the clock to provide specialized security and firewall protection for that company and the partners they work with. It’s much more difficult to protect small and medium businesses solely because the resources are less accessible and are rarely a custom solution.

 

Every year, Verizon performs a data analysis that reviews all of the data incidences and deeper breaches that occur throughout the year. 2020 was no exception – Verizon released the “Data Breach Investigations Report” that paints a picture of the security issues from the year. According to the report, there were 32,002 security incidents and of those 3950 were confirmed breaches.3

 

Let’s dive into the report and look at some of the details. Healthcare, manufacturing, and energy/utility industries comprise some interesting facts when it comes to phishing and intrusion incidents, so, we will review those in more depth.

 

HEALTHCARE

Healthcare, for example, is targeted mostly by utilizing a form of malware called ransomware. According to Fortinet.com, “ransomware is a specific type of malware that holds data hostage in exchange for a ransom. In other words, attackers will demand a given dollar figure in exchange for the data they have stolen and are reversely denying access to your organization. In 2019, ransomware skyrocketed by 820% and is estimated to have cost organizations nearly $20 billion by 2021.4  There were 798 incidents with 521 of them being confirmed breaches. Most of the attacks in this sector are exclusively driven by financial gains and 77% of the breaches were pertaining specifically to personal data being targeted. With a constant rotation of patients’ personal and medical data, the healthcare sector is especially susceptible to attacks.

 

MANUFACTURING

Manufacturing is beset by external actors using password-dumper malware and stolen credentials to hack into systems and steal data. While the majority of attacks are financially motivated, there was a respectable showing of cyber-espionage motivated attacks in this industry as well. Internal employees misusing their access to abscond with data also remains a concern for this vertical. 922 incidents were recorded and 381 of them reported as full-scale breaches.

 

ENERGY, OIL & GAS, UTILITIES

An interesting change occurs when you arrive at the energy sector. Presumably, due to the diminishing viewpoint of the energy and utility corporations, there is a notable increase in espionage attacks when it comes to cybersecurity. Breaches are composed of a variety of actions, but social attacks such as phishing and pretexting dominate incident data. Cyber-Espionage motivated attacks and incidents involving operational technology assets are also concerns for these industries. A reported 194 incidents and 42 of which confirmed data disclosure.

 

SMB & WFH Implications

2020 has truly required that organizations need to find a way to adapt, find a way to be flexible, and they need to do it quickly. Few times before in history has any worldwide event-driven such a dramatic and drastic change as this pandemic has. Notable is the move to mobilize and empower companies to adopt a work from home movement. Many companies, including the behemoth Google, are pushing their returns to full-time in the office until the middle of 2021 at the earliest. With the quick switch to work from home, many organizations are moving to a cloud-based infrastructure and web-based tools. And with that comes more vulnerability; computers not regularly monitored by an in-house IT staff, less frequent and inconsistent updates to firmware and security software, and employees utilizing personal WIFI networks. It’s leaving a lot of organizations more vulnerable across the board.

 

If you can imagine, it is really simply an expansion of companies’ entry points on their internal networks; and the wider and farther stretched a company’s network is the easier cracks can be found and attackers can gain entrance from the outside. That spreading of points along a network is also transferable to manufacturing when you consider adding devices to a work network. It is imperative that you put into place the software and up-to-date devices that will assist in protecting your data from being breached.

 

You might recall the newsworthy attack on Target back in 2014? The attackers gained access essentially though a thermostat using credentials from the HVAC company that supplied and maintained Target’s heating and cooling systems. The attackers stole nearly 40 million credit card files.

 

If Target is vulnerable to attacks such as these, how is your small or medium business going to shore up your walls and add measures to help prevent events like this?

 

At SK&T, we partner with manufacturers that have invested great time and money into systems designed to shore up your network devices. Devices that are integral to your supply chain management, your inventory management, and your labeling systems. All of the devices that track your inventory and print your barcode labels are vulnerable to backdoor intrusions like the example made with the Target attack in 2014. The more devices you have on your network, the greater the chance hackers have to get in.

 

We work with a number of hardware and software providers that not only have provided top of the line devices to power your supply chain and labeling needs, but have in tandem supported those devices with software that protects your data in numerous ways.

 

Let’s take a look at our two main partners and the protection offered for mobile devices: Zebra Technologies has the LifeGuard™for Android™ and Honeywell offers Mobility Edge. Both providers offer extended life solutions beyond the 3 years that Google will support a device; both with their competitive advantages and special offerings.

 

Zebra Technologies LifeGuard™ for Android ™ offers the following5:

  • Aggressive regular security/patch updates: You get timely updates to address new, emerging threats throughout the term of your Zebra OneCare contract. And you never need to remember to check for updates. Just sign up for email notification and you’ll receive a notice as soon as an update is available.
  • Smooth migration to the next Android OS with the right security support: When a new version of Android is released, we continue to provide regular security updates for your current Android OS for a full year, giving you the time you need to determine if and when you want to migrate your apps to the new Android OS – and plan and execute that migration.
  • 6 – 10 years of security support: Consumer smartphone models are released much more frequently than their enterprise ‘cousins” – about every 24 – 36 months. While other manufacturers typically stop providing OS security updates the day their mobile devices are retired, Zebra OneCare contract at no charge, up to 5 years after the device end of sale date.
  • End-to-end revolutionary control of your update process: The update process for enterprise-class Android mobile devices is often time-consuming, costly, complex and difficult to track. Now you can address all of those issues with the LifeGuard Analytics and Update dashboard in your Zebra Visibility Services portal.

 

Honeywell’s Mobility Edge Services6:

  • Accelerate Deployments. Validate once. Deploy everywhere. Faster, easier, and at lower cost. Enabling versatile out-of-the-box capabilities and a rapid provisioning suite, Mobility Edge expedites development, certification, setup, and training involving multiple form factors at once.
  • Optimize Business Performance. Boost productivity and drive efficiency. Powerful, embedded tools across the platform drive faster data capture and secure, enhanced worker communications. The unified, intuitive experience facilitates user adoption and helps employees complete vital tasks.
  • Extend Lifecycle. Forward compatible. Future-proof. Mobility Edge reduces TCO and minimizes headaches with an enterprise-wide approach to maintenance releases, and hardware designed to support ongoing upgrades to the operating system guaranteed through Android 11 and committed to continue working towards compatibility through Android 13.
  • Strengthen Security. Mobility Edge provides a unified, dynamic hardware-and-software platform with built in security, and the best available future security made possible by unbroken Android version continuity, and forward compatibility.

 

There are a lot of options available when it comes to your network device security. It can also be a highly confusing selection process. At SK&T we partner with the top providers of not only the devises that power your healthcare, manufacturing, and distribution centers, but also protect them with enterprise-level software packages that are unrivaled. Let SK&T take a look at your setup, consult with our providers, and put together a complete package to seamlessly manage your devices and keep your network secure.

 

 

 

 

Resources:

  1. https://smallbiztrends.com/2020/05/small-business-data-breaches-2020.html
  2. https://enterprise.verizon.com/resources/reports/dbir/
  3. https://enterprise.verizon.com/resources/executivebriefs/2020-dbir-executive-brief.pdf
  4. https://www.fortinet.com/resources/cyberglossary/ransomware?utm_source=paid-search&utm_medium=google&utm_campaign=Cybersecurity-NAMER-US&utm_content=CG-Ransomeware&utm_term=%2Bransomware&source=Advertisement&Lead_Source_Most_Recent=Advertisement&s_kwcid=AL!11440!3!484933335510!b!!g!!%2Bransomware&gclid=CjwKCAiAt9z-BRBCEiwA_bWv-F8PqmWLqsT6-1EkFP7je8XDN2nI_vG6vW9TweWqUsZfubjGCIZq3RoCmMQQAvD_BwE
  5. https://www.zebra.com/us/en/products/software/mobile-computers/lifeguard.html
  6. https://sps.honeywell.com/us/en/support/blog/productivity/reasons-to-use-honeywell-mobility-edge-for-your-mobile-workforce