Healthcare environments have a wide range of printing requirements, from pharmacy and prescription printing to patient identification, specimen labelling and asset identification.
The right label printer depends on the application, media, software and regulatory requirements involved.
What are label printers used for in healthcare?
Healthcare organisations may use printers for applications including:
- Pharmacy labels
- Prescription labels
- Specimen labels
- Patient identification
- Product and inventory labels
- Equipment identification
- Asset tracking
- Laboratory workflows
Different applications require different media, print formats and levels of durability.
What should you consider when choosing a healthcare label printer?
Print clarity
Small text and barcodes need to remain clear and readable.
Label size
Healthcare applications can require everything from small pharmacy labels to larger identification labels.
Media requirements
Choose media appropriate for the environment and application.
Software integration
The printer needs to work with the healthcare, pharmacy or laboratory software being used.
Connectivity
Consider how the printer will connect to the relevant workstation, POS system or application.
Cleaning and environment
Equipment used in healthcare environments may have specific cleaning and hygiene requirements. These should be assessed for the intended application and device.
Star Micronics healthcare printing solutions
Star Micronics offers printing hardware for healthcare and pharmacy applications, including the mC-Label3 multifunction label printer and TSP847IIRx prescription and pharmacy printer. Star also offers barcode scanners and other peripherals for healthcare workflows.
The company’s healthcare solutions cover applications including pharmacy, laboratory labelling and prescription printing.
Label printing for pharmacies and laboratories
Pharmacies and laboratories may require reliable printing of labels containing information such as:
- Product or medication information
- Patient information
- Barcodes
- Dates
- Instructions
- Identification numbers
The exact printer and media required will depend on the software and application.
Choosing a healthcare label printer
Before selecting a printer, establish:
- What information needs to be printed?
- What label dimensions are required?
- What software will generate the labels?
- What barcode formats are required?
- How frequently will labels be printed?
- What environmental requirements apply?
- Does the printer have the required connectivity and integration support?
Important: Printer suitability should be assessed against the requirements of the specific healthcare application. Where regulatory or compliance requirements apply, these should be confirmed with the relevant organisation or software provider.
FAQs
What is the best label printer for healthcare?
There is no single best printer for every healthcare application. Pharmacy, laboratory, patient identification and asset labelling can have different requirements.
Can thermal printers be used in healthcare?
Thermal printers can be used for many healthcare labelling applications, provided the printer and media are appropriate for the intended use.