TRACK & TRACE
in delays to patient treatments, increase infection or cross-contamination risks, and impose considerable time and financial cost to departments and healthcare workers. In my role at Cantel, we collaborate closely with those working within the health service to help address common infection prevention challenges. In the case of equipment track and trace, the challenge was to provide a system that reduces user errors, saves time and gives greater control over their infection prevention strategies – in one user friendly platform. Traditionally, track and trace systems were paper based. Reams upon reams of forms would be needed to follow one product – say, an endoscope – from pre-procedure clean to use, decontamination, disinfection, reprocessing and storage. Further, many hospitals have related internal requirements mandating them to keep track and trace records for 99 years, so even arranging the storage for paper-based systems proved burdensome. Various medical groups and societies have long advocated for a move away from paper-based systems. In endoscopy for example, the Joint Advisory Group (JAG) recommends electronic systems to monitor and manage endoscopes.6
The British
Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) also notes that electronic tracking and traceability systems are mandatory for endoscope units that rely on remote decontamination facilities,7
while the Department of Health’s HTM 01-06 guidance recommends computerised track and traceability systems as best practice for all endoscopy decontamination units.8
In recent years, many hospitals have moved to electronic track and trace systems that require manual input. However, even though this eliminates the issue of storing thousands of physical records, there’s room for user error when manually recording equipment and patient information. It still costs healthcare workers considerable time and effort, which could be reduced with more advanced digital systems. Crucially, these systems also do not easily integrate with various touch points throughout the department and the wider hospital ecosystem. They often cannot
integrate with machinery, patient electronic health records (EHR), third party software and products or centralised hospital information systems. Given the NHS’ push towards digital user journeys, the track and traceability of equipment is a key area that could benefit from a smarter, digitally- enabled approach.
In recent years, many hospitals have moved to electronic track and trace systems that require manual input. However, even though this eliminates the issue of storing thousands of physical records, there’s room for user error when manually recording equipment and patient information.
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Embracing an advanced digital approach Many Trusts are therefore turning to integrated digital track and trace systems to prevent user error, reduce infection risks, save time, improve inter- department record sharing and better manage valuable equipment. Working closely with NHS clinicians, the CANEXIS Integrated Workflow Solution was created: an integrated workflow solution that is suitable for endoscopy units, surgical departments and sterilisation teams. Using simple barcodes or RFID tags applied to the equipment in question, healthcare professionals can quickly catalogue a product and monitor its journey from patient appointment to storage, and transit between off-site hospital settings. It provides complete oversight of equipment – knowing where it is, accessing its usage history, its decontamination and disinfection status, and any repairs or replacements that might be due. NHS Lothian, the health authority
which services Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian and West Lothian, has been one of the first in the country to commission the solution across the three different services: endoscopy, surgical and sterilisation.
The authority was looking for one APRIL 2021
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