Most often found in the admissions unit, patient labels are the primary way of ensuring positive patient identification throughout a patients visit. Immediately, when a patient arrives, the front desk person, will collect his information, and a significant number of patient labels will be printed for use throughout the patients stay. Patient labels can be imprinted with such information as name, date of birth, age, sex, identification number, and barcode. All of this information will promote positive patient identification. Patient labeling is then used on charts, other documents, samples and belongings. Patient labels have the dimensions of 1 x 3 and are either on thermal transfer stock or direct thermal stock. Please see our labeling tips section to learn how to determine whether the patient labels you use are thermal transfer labels or direct thermal labels. Your admissions department may not use patient labels, but rather, it may use data processing labels as the beginning step in the positive patient identification process.