System including bar coded wristband

A system for reading a bar coded patient wristband, the system comprising:

• a bar code reading portable data terminal (PDT) communicatively coupled to a computer;
• a database communicatively coupled to the computer;
• a patient wristband comprising a plurality of 2 D bar code symbols, the plurality of bar code symbols containing information encoded into each bar code symbol;
• wherein the bar code reading PDT is configured to read at least one of the plurality of bar code symbols and transmit data decoded from the at least one of the plurality of bar code symbols to the computer,
• wherein the computer is configured to retrieve a patient record from the database based on at least a segment of the data decoded and transmit one or more items of the patient record to the bar code reading PDT;
• wherein the system is configured to display one or more items of the patient record;
• wherein the bar code reading PDT is configured for authentication of a user operating the bar code reading PDT, and wherein the authentication is characterized by one or more of (a) the authentication uses an output of a reader or sensor of the bar code reading PDT, and (b) the authentication comprises performing biometric based identification of the user;
• and wherein the system is configured to only display those items of the patient record which the user is authorized based on the authentication by the bar code reading PDT to access.