QR Codes in the Future of Healthcare Technology is advancing so rapidly in today’s society that it leaves many people in the dust. Digital technology has taken over the film industry, iPods have replace CD’s, satellite radio has become the mainstream, and DVD’s have taken the place of VHS tapes, just to name a few. Cell phone technology has made a huge cultural impact and mobile cellular phones have become an integral part of everyday life. Imagine for one minute, a day without a cell phone because it was broken or lost. In the event of an emergency, it would be almost impossible to locate a phone booth. “ The evolution of mobile phone technology has introduced new possibilities to the field of medicine” (Bastawrous & Armstrong, 2013, p. 130). “Phones have evolved from a two-way analog form of communication to palm sized computers called smartphones” (Wyatt & Krauskopf, 2012). Emergency workers in Marin County, California have partnered with a company, Lifesquare, in a pilot program involving the use of QR codes. The residents would input personal medical information onto Lifesquare’s website and then place QR code stickers where emergency workers could easily locate and scan them in the event of an emergency by using their Smartphones. Quick response codes, or QR codes are “two-dimensional matrix barcodes that can hold thousands of alphanumeric characters of information. Their ability to hold large amounts of information and their ease of use makes them practical for medical practices” (Gottesman & Baum, 2013, p. 345). “There are numerous applications for QR codes in the contemporary medical practice” (Gottesman & Baum, 2013, p. 345). The residents of Marin County have reservations about this new technology and are thirsty for more information. The question remains: They can but should they?
Pros and Cons of QR Coding
The QR code was “invented in Japan for the auto industry. Its purpose was to track vehicles during manufacture; it was designed to allow high-speed component scanning” (Gottesman & Baum, 2013, p. 345). It has been used successfully for advertising, business, and marketing purposes and has slowly infiltrated into many areas of healthcare where its use is invaluable. QR code scanning requires the use of a smartphone. Barcode scanning applications can be downloaded to a smartphone for free. A desired feature of QR codes is that information can be scanned by the phone’s camera. It “snaps the code and takes the user to a Web site or video with more information; no typing needed – just point and click” (Gottesman & Baum, 2013, p. 345). Their ease of use and accessibility to information make them desirable to people of all technical skill levels. Another advantage is that there is “no limit to how, or even how much, you can share with QR codes. The ability of QR codes to connect people with each other and to multimedia digital content is very useful for connecting medical practices and also useful for patients” (Gottesman & Baum, 2013, p. 346). QR codes can be used as a marketing tool in healthcare. They can be placed on billboards, business cards, social media sites, and videos to advertise and promote medical practices. Patients can research background and practice information about potential physicians. Patients and their families can access instructional videos and health information, including medication administration instructions and healthcare applications to learn about disease prevention and health promotion (Gottesman & Baum, 2013, p. 346-7). QR codes make it possible for patients to schedule appointments and may even offer links to pertinent forms that need to be completed ahead of time (Nygren Pierce, 2012).
Health care educators also use these codes to “communicate schedules and office hours to students” (Nygren Pierce, 2012). “The advantage to using these codes is in the quick and simple access to websites or phone numbers, eliminating the need to write information down, to commit to going to a website at a later time, or to remember a URL” (Nygren Pierce, 2012).
The residents of Marin County are at a great advantage by participating in the pilot program with Lifesquare. In the event of an emergency, responders with smartphones will have immediate access to the patient’s vital health information by scanning stickers that are placed in convenient locations. This is not limited to home use only. The stickers can be carried with the person in a wallet, purse, or even on their car keys, wherever they can be easily accessed. Temporary tattoos of QR codes may serve as identifiers for patients with dementia (Nygren Pierce, 2012). This essential medical information may prevent medication reactions, and delays in treatment because the patient has disclosed pertinent details about their health.
Despite the many advantages of QR codes, new technology is often feared because it involves education and learning new skills. This may be challenging when introduced to an aging population. Smartphone access may be limited or non-existent. It also evokes ethical issues that present challenges for implementation. The QR code stickers utilized by Lifesquare contain patient’s protected health information raising concerns about data security, and a patient’s right to privacy and confidentiality. Data security is an important element of healthcare data protection. It has three aspects. “The first deals with ensuring the accuracy of the data; the second, with protection of the data from unauthorized eyes inside or outside the agency; and the third, with internal or external damage to the data” (Sewell & Thede, 2013, p. 364). The consumer inputs the data in the pilot program in Marin County therefore they are responsible for the information entered and the accuracy of the data. They should ensure the company’s credibility by researching their claims before disclosing any personal information. Protection of that data is more of a concern. Companies, like Lifesquare, have a responsibility to keep the consumer’s information private. Privacy disclaimers can be added to signed agreements between the company and consumer, however the consumer may not look at this as a guarantee that their health information will remain private. The purpose of the 1996 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was to “improve the effectiveness and efficiency of healthcare” (Sewell & Thede, 2013, p. 361). However, the areas of privacy and confidentiality have received the most public attention. It is the responsibility of every healthcare provider to protect a patient’s right to privacy and confidentiality or risk violating HIPAA. This involves the spoken or written word, or the use of any electronic transmission of information. Consumers may be hesitant to participate in this program if they fear an invasion of privacy; therefore education about the ease of accessibility to vital medical information in an emergency is crucial.
QR Code Stickers Can Save Lives
I feel strongly that the residents of Marin County should participate in the Lifesquare pilot program. Easy access to QR code stickers with patient’s pertinent medical information by emergency workers may be the difference between life and death. QR codes have many non-medical uses including advertising, business, and marketing. However, QR codes in healthcare have generated much recent interest due to their unlimited applications. Although ethical considerations regarding risking privacy, confidentiality, and data security are valid concerns, I feel the advantages outweigh these disadvantages. Technology involving QR code scanning in emergency situations can save lives because it offers convenience, portability, and the access to vital medical information, which can reduce medical errors and prevent delays in treatment.

References
Bastawrous, A., & Armstrong, M. (2013). Mobile use in low-and high-income countries: an overview of the peer-reviewed literature. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 106(4), 130-42.
Gottesman, W., & Baum, N. (2013). QR codes: next level of social media. Journal of Medical Practice Management, 28(6), 345-7.
Nygren Pierce, M. (2012). Quick response codes. HPA Resource, 12(2), 1-9.
Sewell, J., & Thede, L. (2013). Informatics and nursing opportunities and challenges. (4th ed.). Philadelphia PA: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.
Wyatt, T., & Krauskopf, P. (2012). E-health and nursing: Using smartphones to enhance nursing practice.Online Journal of Nursing Informatics (ONLINE J NURS INFORM), 16(2), 10-14. Retrieved from Available at http://ojni.org/issues/?p= 1706