Up until recently, the United States health care systems did not want to address the obvious risk in the room. The operating room. Full of high-value & high moving implants from some 20-30 of the world’s best medical manufacturers. And all barcoded with the GTIN.
Global Trade Item Numbers (GTINs) uniquely identify items that are traded (Pharmaceuticals, Medical Devices, etc.) in the Supply Chain. The integrity of these numbers throughout the item’s lifetime is a key to maintaining uniqueness for manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, hospitals, regulatory bodies and other Supply Chain stakeholders.
Enter RFID. The simple addition of a chip placed on a unique item tied into the GTIN. Enrolled at the facility, managing the product lifecycle and provides:
••Real-time inventory eliminating expirations
••Increased charge capture
••A chain of command (control) of said item to the patient (think batch recalls)
••Reduced consigned inventory
The elephant is an ever-moving target. Providing the ability to protect the elephant in the room is security to the health chain ecosystem.
