Codonics: Transforming Medication Safety with Innovation, Relationship-Driven Growth, and Award-Winning Impact
At the intersection of patient safety, workflow optimization, and cutting-edge technology, Codonics continues to lead the charge in solving some of healthcare’s most persistent medication management challenges. Recently honored at the 2025 TAG Awards for MedTech Innovation, Codonics was recognized for its unwavering commitment to advancing perioperative safety and redefining how hospitals and surgical teams manage medication labeling and waste.
The Power of Listening—and Solving Real Problems
For Mike Kolberg, VP and General Manager of Codonics, the mission is clear: listen first, then innovate with purpose. Codonics’ flagship Safe Label System® (SLS) is a direct response to the very real risks anesthesiologists face every day. “We're not just selling a device,” Kolberg said. “We’re solving a problem that affects patient safety, regulatory compliance, and clinical efficiency.”
SLS integrates directly with a hospital’s EMR, streamlining the labeling process and drastically reducing the potential for medication errors. Its impact is tangible, stories abound of “old-school” clinicians skeptical at first, only to later credit the system for catching critical mistakes that could have caused harm.
Innovation That Keeps Evolving
While the Safe Label System has become widely known and respected in operating rooms across the country, Codonics isn’t resting on its laurels. The company continues to push boundaries, most recently unveiling a new solution aimed at solving the persistent challenge of medication wasting and diversion in the OR.
“Narcotics must be accounted for down to the last drop,” Kolberg explained. “But the process is flawed, requiring second witnesses, pulling staff from other rooms, and relying heavily on manual protocols.” Codonics’ upcoming product, featuring a built-in spectrophotometer for real-time verification, aims to streamline the waste process and minimize the risk of diversion, all without the need for pharmacy assistance or added staff burden.
Not Just Innovation—Adoption
Change in the medical field is notoriously difficult. Codonics knows this firsthand. “Your technology can be the best out there, but if clinicians don’t accept it or find it too cumbersome, it won’t get used,” Kolberg shared. That’s why Codonics emphasizes design simplicity, clinical workflow integration, and real-world usability in every iteration of their solutions.
It’s also why they invest heavily in relationship-building, particularly through trade shows. From national pharmacy conferences to intimate “speed-dating” events with pharmacy directors, Codonics thrives on face-to-face interactions that go beyond selling and into true partnership. “Our customers know us by name. They come to us with their problems and they come back because we deliver.”
The RFID Future
At a recent trade show, Codonics introduced a version of their system that supports RFID, a major leap forward in medication tracking and patient safety. With RFID, hospitals can move beyond simple barcode scanning to broader applications such as inventory control, patient-specific medication administration, and real-time data integration.
“RFID is where healthcare is headed,” said Kolberg. “And we’re designing systems that blend multiple RFID technologies—UHF for inventory and HF/NFC for point-of-care use—to ensure hospitals get the best of both worlds.”
Why Codonics Stood Out at the TAG Awards
The TAG Awards for MedTech Innovation celebrate companies not just for technological breakthroughs, but for real-world impact. Codonics was a standout among this year’s winners due to its thoughtful design philosophy, proven clinical benefits, and its relentless pursuit of smarter, safer systems that meet clinicians where they are.
“It’s a huge honor to be recognized,” said Kolberg. “But what’s more rewarding is knowing we’re helping reduce errors, save time, and make lives better—both for patients and providers.”
What’s Next?
Codonics is already testing new products that promise to expand their impact across the perioperative space. Whether it's helping anesthesiologists waste drugs more safely or empowering pharmacists to streamline their workflows, the team is focused on one thing: solving real-world problems with practical, scalable solutions.
As Kolberg put it: “We may not be a household name outside of hospitals, but inside the OR, they know us, and they trust us.”
Want to learn more about why Codonics was TAG’d for excellence?
Listen to, "Solving the Right Problems: How Codonics is Transforming Medication Safety in the OR," on the TAG'd Beyond the Award Podcast.
Visit www.codonics.com or connect with them at upcoming trade shows!