MedCity Influencers, Devices & Diagnostics

Common Mistakes In Medical Device Labeling And How To Avoid Them

Labels may be small and simple items, but they have a huge part to play in patient health, and any hospital or healthcare institution that wants to keep patients safe should absolutely invest in adequate labeling methods moving forward.

The medical device industry is evolving and expanding with every passing year, with new devices being developed to save lives and treat an array of ailments and health conditions. At the same time, there are various risks and challenges associated with medical devices market, especially in regard to their labeling.

Incorrect labeling on medical devices can cause an array of issues that could jeopardize the safety of both patients and medical personnel, but advancements in medical labels may help to counteract these issues and improve standards across the industry. In this article, we’ll look at some common issues associated with medical device labeling and how they can be avoided.

Importance of accurate labeling for patient safety

In the healthcare industry, patient safety is the priority. It’s vital to follow correct practices and procedures to ensure that patients are treated with the absolute highest levels of care and protection. Labeling has a part to play in this, as labels can provide medical personnel with clear instructions on how to use each device in the safest way.

Not only that, but medical device labels also contain other important pieces of information, such as possible expiry dates (if relevant), details on how devices should be stored and handled when not in use, and so on. All of this information is needed to ensure that every device is used in the safest possible way.

Common mistakes in medical device labeling

Unfortunately, medical labels are sometimes misprinted, faded, incorrectly produced, or even peel away from the items that they’re attached to, generating a range of problematic situations for medical staff. Here are just some of the most common mistakes that can occur with medical device labeling:

  • Inaccurate Information One of the most common issues with medical labels is when they contain information that is not accurate. This might include details about the device’s contents or usage instructions, for example. If the information on the label is false or misleading in any way, it may not only contravene the FDA’s regulations, but could also lead to a patient being put in danger.
  • Missing Critical Information In some cases, the information on the medical device labels is all correct, but certain pieces of data are missing or lacking. This might occur due to a printing error or oversight when preparing the labels, for example. Or, it could happen that a label originally had all of the necessary information but suffered wear and tear over time, with parts of the label fading away and becoming unclear.
  • Lack of Multilingual Labeling Medical devices are made and produced all over the world, and a single hospital may employ staff who have different native languages. In places like this, it’s vital for medical labels to be produced and printed with multilingual information, allowing people who speak different languages to all read and access the same info. If labels are only printed in one language, this could cause problems when other medical workers try to read them.
  • Poor Placement of Label Label placement is another key factor to consider when it comes to medical device labeling. If the labels are placed in an inconvenient or difficult-to-access part of the device, it may be hard to see them and read the information that they’re trying to convey. Not only that, but labels in certain areas may be more likely to degrade, fade, and peel away over time or could interfere with the usage of the device itself.
  • Illegible Font or Font Size Medical device labels need to have a font that is easy and clear to read, and all text should be of an appropriate size. Some fonts are much harder to read than others, and if text is too small, it might be difficult to make out individual words and details. Printing and production errors may cause some medical labels to be produced with inappropriate fonts or text that is too small.
  • Non-compliance with labeling regulations There are strict labeling regulations in place in regard to medical device labels. These labels need to be produced in accordance with those guidelines, and any deviations can result in labels that are unclear, difficult to use, and unsafe for medical and healthcare usage. This is why it’s critical for label-makers and device manufacturers to be aware of the guidelines and follow them.

Ways to avoid common mistakes in medical device labeling

As we can see, there are several costly and even dangerous mistakes that may occur with incorrect medical device labels. Fortunately, there are methods and options in place to reduce the risk of these issues occurring:

  • Choose the most optimal technologies for medical device labeling: One of the simplest ways to guarantee that medical labels are of the best quality is to choose smart labeling technologies. Classic adhesive labels are outdated and gradually being replaced by more modern alternatives like permanent fused labels that will never fade or peel away.
  • Comprehensive label design and placement: In order to avoid any risks of labels having incorrect information, unclear text, poor font choices, or bad placement, design and placement procedures should be carried out with great care for every single medical label.
  • Conducting usability testing: Usability testing is also a great way to help test out the usefulness and reliability of any medical label. Putting products and labels through a testing phase before releasing them for purchase and use should help to minimize the risks of any problems for hospitals and medical workers later on.

Conclusion

As we can see, correct medical device labeling is absolutely vital for patient and health worker safety. Labels may be small and simple items, but they have a huge part to play in patient health, and any hospital or healthcare institution that wants to keep patients safe should absolutely invest in adequate labeling methods moving forward.


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George Nelson

George Nelson is a sustainability consultant who is currently cooperating with Polyfuze. He is passionate about life-changing innovation, and industrial and manufacturing technologies. George loves discovering and sharing new technologies that shape the sustainability agenda. He has many fascinating articles published in various magazines and blogs.

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