Hospitals that worry whether making care for patients safe makes them money or costs them money will never be safe.

The adoption and use of barcode technology is on the rise as hospital administrators and healthcare providers gain familiarity with its value.

Ever since the Institute of Medicine reported that up to 98,000 Americans die each year as the result of medical errors (2000) and observed that our healthcare system suffers from a “chasm” between consistent, high-quality care that is based on the best scientific knowledge available and the care many actually receive (2001), there has been renewed vigor in reducing variation and improving healthcare for all Americans.