locate those transplanted people. This is the reason why data-capture regulations as the FDA’s UDI rule is being forced in the past 10 years. Today hospitals management realize they must invest in data integrity in point of care.”


Lomnitz promotes that IDENTI Medi-


cal “cracked the system” and developed an easy-to-use platform that provides complete visibility in operating and pro- cedural rooms. “While the other solutions concentrate


on resolving the symptoms, the IDENTI platform addresses the problem itself. By combining UHF-RFID Smart Cabinet with Snap & Go image-based charge-capture, we deliver a clear and safe view of the cur- rent stock and usage. When all items and costs are documented, accurate manage- ment is made possible.”


Arnold Chazal, CEO, VUEMED, identi-


fies and outlines seven ways R makes a difference in the healthcare supply chain, spanning accuracy of documentation and item tracking, reliable data to guide decision-making, increased productiv- ity and substantial savings and revenue generation. For Chazal, RFID enables the following: 1.Makes the monitoring, documenting, and accounting of items efficient, accurate and easy – it’s hands free, cabinet free and virtually error-proof;


2.Provides an item’s location and chain of custody in the hospital at any moment, and can track assets, patients and per- sonnel with equal agility using the same light, inexpensive overhead infrastruc- ture;


3.Enables UDI regulatory compliance by embedding the item’s unique ID and all pedigree data like lot/serial number and expiration date on its tags;


4.Reports in real time on product avail- ability and low par levels, automates replenishment, and optimizes inventory size and composition by providing the data visibility needed to be proactive and take action;


5.Increases billed revenue and patient record accuracy through automated, accurate clinical documentation at the point of care;


6.Reduces waste by automating expiration tracking so that items no longer expire on the shelves, and protects patients by preventing expired and recalled items from reaching them;


7.Guarantees swift and easy recall manage- ment by being able to report instantly on usage of recalled products in completed patient procedures, which saves time for clinicians and identifies the concerned patients for proper follow-up care.


2021 HEALTHCARE PRODUCT HALL OF FAME “When used in combination with smart


key performance indicators (KPIs), opti- mization software and Cloud analytics, RFID technology can lead to dramatic improvements,” Chazal continued. “In one of our case studies involving a large academic medical center in California, expired items have been maintained at less than 0.5% of total inventory value; unused inventory and inventory above recommended PAR levels have been reduced by more than 60%; and billing accuracy is now more than 90%, just to name a few key results.”


VUEMED uses RAIN RFID technology to power its clinical inventory manage- ment and supply chain optimization solutions in hospitals – a type of advanced RFID distinguished by its use of the GS1 UHF Gen2 protocol, according to Chazal. “RAIN RFID isn’t new,” he noted. “The adoption of RAIN RFID is broad and deep, spreading across many industries around the globe. It is new to healthcare, however, and we are seeing a growing level of interest in this set of capabilities as providers are looking for ways to gain more visibility and control over their operations in a world where they are continuously under pressure to control costs and juggle labor shortages, while simultaneously delivering high quality patient care.


“With RFID, we now have the Internet of Things (IoT) for medical devices and supplies. From application of the tag to their use at the point of care, each individ- ual item is recorded in the Cloud, as well as every event and location associated with it,” he continued. “Providers can now identify the exact location and usage of all medical supplies and products at all times, thereby dramatically improving clinical documentation, integration of key supply data into other systems, and ultimately patient outcomes.” Todd Stewart, Vice President, Enterprise


Workow Solutions at Cenrak, empha- sizes the necessary productivity gains that automated location technologies provide healthcare organizations.


“The demand for care has increased exponentially over the past decade, and there is no sign of it slowing down,” he said. “Powered by CenTrak RTLS (real- time location systems), RFID tags are crucial resources for healthcare facili- ties, patients and staff. Health systems need operational workow automation to help them work smarter, not harder. This approach improves outcomes while simultaneously reducing the operational cost of care delivery in a scalable, repeat- able manner.”


Mobile clinical/medical/ reprocessing facilities


KEY SUPPLIERS: Extreme Canopy, Mas- tertent, MMIC Medical Systems, Sprung Structures, STERIS, TentCraft


WHY IT MATTERS: Whether dealing with over-capacity service demands or the after- math of some crisis or disaster, hospitals and other healthcare facilities have appreci- ated and relied on mobile units to provide a variety of services, including diagnostic imaging, laboratory testing, sterile process- ing, standard medical care and during the last year or two, COVID-19 testing and vaccine distribution and injection. But these facilities extend far beyond


“pop-up” service providers. They can amplify or reinforce existing service, particularly during construction and renovations. “Sterile Processing Services (SPS) have been notoriously ignored until recent problems, traced to a lack of understanding [of] properly sterilized instruments used for surgery,” said Janet Lumbra, Director of Business Development, MMIC Medical Systems, which manufactures and markets temporary facilities to ensure business/ service continuity. “These problems awak- ened hospitals to the importance of the SPS role in reducing the risks associated with hospital acquired infections (HAIs). As a result, many hospitals are upgrading, updating, and totally overhauling outdated SPS departments to be effective in their role as the first line of defense against s. These renovations receive top priority with facilities as their implementation maintains a good reputation of the facility well into the future.”


To facilitate a code-compliant on-site solution for hospitals to use during renova- tions is one of the primary reasons MMIC Medical Systems designed its Mobile Sterile Processing System, according to Lumbra. “Now clinicians have a solution that retains staff, ensures proper processing protocols are preserved during the renova- tion while also providing the assurance of code compliance, perhaps even to a greater degree than the space they are renovating,” she noted.


STERIS Corp. offers its STERIS Mobile Sterile Processing Unit as a one to three expandable semitruck platform that “allows for a turnkey solution and process to continually support the SPD and Surgical department delivered to the hospital site to support clinicians without disruption during hospital construction, renovation, or emergency situation,” said Nicholas Shelton, Director of Mobile Solutions.


hpnonline.com • HEALTHCARE PURCHASING NEWS • December 2021 37


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