The GS1 Healthcare Conference informed the audience about the opportunity to transform the performance of our healthcare service through the implementation of established information technology. 

The impressive line-up of healthcare experts told the audience how the introduction of track & trace technologies based on GS1’s global supply chain standards would significantly reduce the risk of medical error.  Key initiatives including the introduction of an electronic patient record (EPR), the automatic data capture (bar code scanning) of medicines and medical devices would transform current processes.  This in turn would lead to improved patient outcomes by freeing up doctors, nurses and pharmacists from wasteful and inefficient paper trails and enable them to utilize their professional skills in caring for patients.

n his opening address, Aidan Keane , Chairman of GS1 Ireland, explained the commitment that the organization has to supporting the deployment of ICT in healthcare based on GS1 standards.

Keith Farrar, Clinical Specialist in Electronic Prescribing Medicines Management for CSC Computer Services, illustrated how the introduction of ePrescribing and Robotic dispensing had meant that pharmacy staff at the Wirral Hospital, Liverpool spent 70% of their time on clinical guidance for patients, compared to around 35% at other NHS hospitals who did not have these systems. Professor Peter Weedle, Pharmacist and Professor of Clinical Pharmacy Practice at the School of Pharmacy, University College Cork, explained how the dispensing robot at his retail pharmacy had also improved patient safety and the quality of service to his customers.

Frank Kilzer, Vice President of Material and Facility Resources at St. Alexius Medical Centre, North Dakota, wowed the audience with his presentation on how bar code scanning of medicines at the point of administration, as well as surgical instruments and medical implants, had already lead to dramatic improvements in the quality and efficiency of the care processes. Even more revealing was the fact that bed side scanning had been in operation since 1993 before even the GS1 standards had been developed and implemented. Frank stated that with the pharmaceutical and medical device industries move to introduce data matrix bar codes containing batch and expiry data, as well as the product code and a serial number, this was the time for the Irish Healthcare Service to implement these proven technologies.

Jean-Marc Bobee chairman of EFPIA’s codification and identification of pharmaceuticals in Europe, described the reasoning behind the decision to adopt the GS1 global standards for data matrix, in order to improve patient safety and combat the growing threat of counterfeit medicines.

Damien McCalliion, Head of ICT at the HSE, outlined the case for introducing information technology in order to improve patient safety and efficiency in our healthcare service. Damien explained how the use of technology and standards in the airline industry had led to improved safety of operations and that lessons could be drawn for the applications of ICT in healthcare.

Maris Jimenez, European Director of EPC’s Public Policy Steering Committee explained the implications of the Irish and European legislation on data protection in terms of protecting the privacy of patient’s data.

Finally, Tony Walsh, European Development Manager of Domino’s Integrated Solutions Group and John Jenkins Managing Director of JJ Associates explained how data matrix bar codes and rfid tags on pharmaceutical products would lead to greater efficiency in the management of the supply chain, as well as protecting it from the growing threat of counterfeit products. The new track & trace solutions based on product serialization at patient pack level were illustrated in a presentation on the EU funded Bridge project which has just been completed.

 Press Releases

The Irish Times Health 20th May

The Sunday Business Post 11th May

The Sunday Business Post 11th May