IDION

Idion is a company that has developed a skin-applied patient identification technology to replace traditional hospital wristbands. The company's solution involves a thin, adhesive, and hypoallergenic plastic substrate that can be printed with patient information such as name, date of birth, age, weight, medical record number, blood type, barcodes, and QR codes. These badges are customizable and can be produced at the nursing station via a special printer connected to the hospital's electronic health record (EHR) system.

The badges feature a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) layer that allows hospital staff to read the patient's information using Near Field Communication (NFC) without having to physically touch or disturb the patient. This technology offers several advantages over traditional wristbands, including improved comfort, reduced skin irritation, and ease of scanning without rotating the patient's arm.

In 2019, Idion partnered with Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan for a trial of their solution. The trial results were overwhelmingly positive, with 93% of patients and 100% of staff preferring the badges over wristbands. No adverse skin reactions were reported, and the badges proved durable, with some lasting up to two weeks.

During the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, Idion's badges became particularly useful in reducing touchpoints and potential transmission risks within healthcare facilities. The Northwell system used the badges on over 30,000 patients, primarily at the Lennox Hill/Greenwich Village Emergency facility in New York City. Nurses at the facility stopped using wristbands, which were considered a transmission risk, and opted for Idion's tattoo ID badges instead.