Product traceability from the point of manufacture to the point of care or use.
GS1 Global Trade Item Numbers (GTINs) are used to uniquely identify, track and trace products and devices as they are transferred through the supply chain and along the patient pathway.
Achieving this visibility means that products and devices can be effectively traced to the patient to better review outcomes and improve safety.
Items can also be closely monitored for post-market surveillance and in the event of a product recall, defective items can be quickly identified and removed from circulation.
GTINs also serve as an authentication measure to validate legitimacy. It is then easier to pinpoint any potential counterfeit or falsified products or devices that may have entered the supply chain.
Benefits of product ID
Patient safety
Counterfeit and falsified products and devices can be identified to prevent harm and reduce the risk of Never Events.
Product recalls
Products can be easily traced, so in the event of a product recall, they can quickly be removed from circulation
Inventory management
Stock availability can be monitored in real time, eliminating the need for manual stocktaking.
Accurate records
Items used on, or in, a patient, can be captured at the point of use and recorded directly in the patient record.
Post-market surveillance
Products and devices can be widely surveilled while on the market to monitor patient outcomes and adverse events.
Patient-level information costings (PLICs)
Products used in a particular procedure or timeframe can be monitored to provide accurate PLICs.