Adoption and implementation of GS1 BarCodes and GS1 EPCglobal

Automatic identification systems (bar code or RFID) can have a very wide range of applications, including point-of-care scanning to match product data to patient data, verification of patient identity via a wristband, enabling the introduction of robotic dispensing systems, recording implant serial numbers in patient records and central registries, tracking and tracing of individual instruments through decontamination, stock control and supplies management, tracking assets throughout a network of facilities, …

All these applications and systems enable the realisation of associated health and economic benefits: reducing medication errors, preventing counterfeiting, saving costs and increasing the Healthcare supply chain efficiency and transparency.

Numerous studies have shown that automatic identification throughout the entire Healthcare supply chain, right to the point of delivery to the patient, is an extremely effective tool in preventing medication errors.

However, global standards are needed for an effective and efficient roll-out of automatic identification systems in the Healthcare sector.

• Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Boston (USA): the introduction of a bar code point-of-care system resulted in a reduction of medication error rate by 55%
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• Gerle Ziekenhuizen, Maastricht (Netherlands): the introduction of a bar code point-of-care system resulted in a reduction of 74% in administration errors (from 3.10% to 0.84%)
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• Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare NHS Trust (UK): the introduction of a robotic dispensing system resulted in a reduction of dispensing errors by 67% from 2.7% to 0.9% of prescriptions
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• University Hospital of Jena (Germany): the introduction of RFID tagged drugs packed individually for each patient and a point-of-care verification system resulted in an increase of the quality of care
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• University Hospital of Dijon (France): the introduction of traceability systems based on RFID technology within the hospital resulted in an increased efficiency in logistics
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