Mater Hospital - Label Printing Solution

The Requirement

The Mater Hospital uses a hospital management system on a Digital Vax platform. Connected to this platform were a number of label printers, designed to print patient sample labels. These printers had given many years of service, but were no longer being produced. Spare parts were becoming harder to source, and maintenance of the existing systems was proving difficult.

The Hospital started to review the options open to them and insisted they wanted a solution that could emulate the previous printer negating the need to change codes on their management system, that could be attached to their network and that was reliable and cost effective.

The Solution

After being contacted by the Mater Hospital, VisionID worked with them to source a solution. After much investigation, a solution incorporating an Intermec PF2i Barcode Printer running a 3000A emulation programme was provided. The PF2i is one member of Intermec’s new series of printers made from die-cast magnesium making it both lightweight and durable.

The PF2i printer is specially designed to provide rigorous bar code label printing in areas where space is limited. Users can enjoy all the features and benefits of larger bar code label printers, including stand alone smart printing, without giving up valuable space. The PF2i is designed to excel in demanding applications, printing labels up to 60 mm (2.3 in) wide with features designed to minimize handling.

This printer maximizes label printing by using a full size label roll up to 213 mm (8.4 in) to reduce media changes. The magnetic QuickMount print head eliminates hassles and downtime. The print head is replaced quickly and easily with the magnet and u-brackets ensuring proper alignment, no tools required.

The PF2i bar code printer is exceptionally fast in throughput and printing, reliable, and delivers very high print quality. For applications where space is limited the PF2i printer exceeded the Mater Hospital’s expectations.

The Outcome

Using the PF2i solution, the Mater was able to start phasing out their existing printers without the need for changes to their host application. In place of the old units, they got a printer that was up-to-date, reliable, and that knitted easily into their system. The PF2i also offered the ability to print and monitor directly from their network.

About The Mater Misericordiae University Hospital

The Mater Misericordiae University Hospital is a charitable voluntary hospital and holds a unique place in the delivery of healthcare not only to the community of North Dublin but also to the rest of the country with its tertiary services. The Hospital was established in 1861 under the auspices of Catherine McAuley and the Sisters of Mercy.

The Mission and Ethos of the organisation is a reflection of Catherine McAuley’s devotion to the sick and elderly in the Dublin of her time. This philosophy is effected through the Office of the Director of Mission Effectiveness whose principal remit is to ensure the widest possible promotion of the mission to hospital staff, patients and their relatives.

The hospital has two national specialities, cardiothoracic surgery (including transplantation) and spinal injuries. Regional specialities include ophthalmology, dermatology, breast cancer screening and oncology. The hospital also provides services under a range of medical and surgical specialities, including cardiology, renal services, general and vascular surgery, urology and orthopaedics. The hospital has 570 beds including day beds and approximately 3000 employees.