PATI ENT SAFE T Y
will transform the medicines they receive into different pack types, dose counts, kits, patient trays, etc.
Some will also make medicines themselves, often combining several other products in the process. These transformation and manufacture activities are making use of the 2D DataMatrix to better control the processes. Moving into the clinical area, activities such as dispensing and administration are being made more efficient, safer and the data captured in patient records systems. Every hospital is unique, and the
opportunities to leverage benefits may vary from one hospital to another depending on how products are distributed and handled. Factors such as the physical layout of the facilities, available equipment, systems and national legislation, all play a part in shaping where and how benefits can be realised. Despite these differences, every hospital can gain through the use of the 2D DataMatrix and the savings can be significant.
The significant opportunities available to hospitals
Medication errors are the single most common form of preventable adverse events. The level of medical errors that occur in hospitals is well documented; the financial costs are also significant for a hospital, resulting from factors including corrective treatment, litigation costs and additional hospital stays. The UK, alone, reports thats £2 billion per year is spent on avoidable hospital stays. In developed countries medication errors occur in around 10% to 20% of all patient administrations. There are also the broader economic factors to consider such as loss of ability of the patient to work and contribute to society. The personal impacts must also be considered, not only for the patient and their families, but also for the healthcare workers involved.
The use of barcodes can have a substantial impact on clinical processes, reducing dispensing and administration errors and supporting clinicians in carrying out their job both more efficiently and safely. The report highlights examples of how medication error rates have fallen as a result of the use of barcodes – in one example the prevented error rate fell by 76%, while
the time taken to dispense medicines was reduced by almost 7%.
Given the high volume and value of medicines handled by a hospital there are also savings to be made in inventory and stock control. One of the hospitals visited during the report’s research was experiencing challenges around procurement and supply chain processes.
They were ordering more product than they used and had inefficient processes for receipt, storage and distribution. Product was also not being correctly identified, tracked and traced. Following the implementation of an automated inventory management system and the scanning of barcodes, a much greater level of control and visibility of the supply chain was achieved. So far, the hospital has saved £4 million on reduction of waste through over-ordering. These are just two examples, of many from the report, all of which demonstrate how the EU FMD barcodes are being used to create value beyond product authentication. To read the full
report please scan the QR code (right) or visit the Be4ward website and download a copy at:
www.be4ward. com/benefits-beyond- eu-falsified-medicines- directive/
About the author CSJ
In developed countries medication errors occur in around 10% to 20% of all patient administrations. There are also the broader economic factors to consider such as loss of ability of the patient to work and contribute to society.
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WWW.CLINICALSERVICESJOURNAL.COM
Grant Courtney is a leading healthcare industry consultant and industry- recognised expert advisor on digital brand protection and product traceability. Prior to joining Be4ward he spent 24 years working in the Healthcare Industry for GlaxoSmithKline in both manufacturing, supply chain and commercial positions. Working closely with the European Commission, European Medicines Verification Organisation (EMVO), GS1 and other industry associations, Grant has been a trusted advisor to EFPIA in defining the industry’s advocacy and strategic approach to anti-counterfeiting and product traceability in Europe. He was an elected member of the GS1 Global Healthcare Leadership Team for ten years, developing the organisations strategy for driving adoption of standards to increase patient safety and lower healthcare costs globally. During this time, he also held the role of co-chair of the GS1 Healthcare Public Policy group which provided advocacy and advised regulators and authorities on how to implement Global Standards. Grant has been recognised through several industry awards including the Institute for Safe Medication Practices Award for preventing the spread of counterfeits in Nigeria and the Best Pharmacy Initiative - Falsified Medicines Directive anti-counterfeiting model. He has a degree in Business Studies, a Lean Sigma Green Belt and is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing. Email:
grant.courtney@
be4ward.com
OCTOBER 2020
©Be4ward
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