Twenty years ago, GS1 expanded its work in healthcare globally revolutionising how medical products are tracked and identified and extending its use to standardise the identification of patients, locations, assets, and more.
Safer, smarter care starts with a simple scan
Imagine a world where medicines and medical devices can be tracked right to the patient resulting in safer, more efficient care. The key enablers in achieving this vision are standardised identification and barcoding, often referred to as Scan4Safety.
Originally launched in the retail sector in the 1970s, the barcode has simplified processes and enhanced safety and efficiency across many industry sectors.
Making a difference for millions globally
Barcodes in healthcare are now making a difference for millions globally. "For two decades, GS1 barcodes have been an indispensable guardian of patient safety”, said Susan Moffatt-Bruce (MD), President of Lahey Hospital Medical Centre (US). “By powering the efficient sharing of data, barcodes help healthcare providers make informed decisions that prevent errors and improve care”.
In Ireland, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has a long-established partnership with GS1 Ireland over many years and the GS1 standards are already deeply embedded in the HSE. Irish Healthcare is recognised as a global leader in designing and implementing standards-based traceability solutions from the safe treatment of Haemophilia medication, the national track and trace for surgical trays and endoscopes, the tracking of the COVID-19 vaccine, and now the Scan4Safety programme.
The learnings and models from these programmes including the importance of close clinical engagement, are a vital starting point to support the adoption of innovation in Irish healthcare more widely.
"One of our strategic aims is Digital Enabled Care, and by that, I mean changing how we do things using technology. Scan4Safety, based on GS1 Standards has been a key delivery of that. It has reduced the inefficiency of paper. It has given time back to patient care, which is a key priority, as well as actually being good value for money." Lucy Nugent, former CEO, Tallaght University Hospital
The ability to provide traceability as to what happened to a specific patient (such as the implant of a medical device or the administration of a medication), where and by whom is critical. This can be seen in a hospital where a patient wristband is often scanned before a medication pack is scanned and then the patient is handed a medication - that is global standards at work to improve the quality of care that each patient receives.
The future of safer, smarter care
GS1 Healthcare looks to the future with a clear mission: to make safer, smarter care accessible to everyone, everywhere.
GS1 is working with leading global technology companies to ensure barcodes on medical products can be scanned by patients with their smartphones worldwide, giving instant access to critical information about treatments—all in one simple scan.
A Call to Action
This 20-year milestone is both a celebration and a call to action, inviting healthcare stakeholders to join GS1 in building a safer, smarter care for everyone, everywhere.
GS1 media contact
Name: Amanda Creane
Email: amanda.creane@gs1ie.org
Phone: +353 86 035 2969
Global Press Release:https://www.gs1.org/industries/healthcare/gs1-healthcare-20th-anniversary
About GS1 Ireland
GS1 Ireland is the local member organisation for GS1, the international standards organisation, a neutral, non-profit organisation. GS1 sets the standards for identification, barcoding, traceability and supply chain and has a wealth of local, international, and multi-sectoral expertise based on industry and international best practice.
In healthcare, GS1 standards help ensure accurate data, streamline processes, and improve patient safety by enabling things like unique identification of medical devices, better inventory management, and improved traceability. In Ireland, GS1 works in partnership with the HSE and all GS1 Ireland members to progress the implementation of the GS1 standards for safer, smarter care.
About GS1 Healthcare
GS1 Healthcare is a neutral and open community bringing together key healthcare stakeholders to develop and implement global standards. The development and implementation of GS1 standards is led by its users, a global community of pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, group purchasing organisations, hospitals, pharmacies, logistics providers, solution providers, governmental and regulatory bodies, and trade associations. This collaborative network, nurtured by trust and alignment, has been essential for the adoption of GS1 standards in healthcare. Members of GS1 Healthcare include more than 150 leading healthcare organisations worldwide. For more information visit: https://www.gs1.org/industries/healthcare/gs1-healthcare-20th-anniversary
About GS1
GS1 is a neutral, not-for-profit organisation that is best known for the barcode, named by the BBC as one of “the 50 things that made the world economy.” GS1 standards improve the efficiency, safety and visibility of supply chains across physical and digital channels in 25 sectors. We enable organisations to identify, capture and share information seamlessly. Our scale and reach – local Member Organisations in 118 countries, more than 2 million user companies and 10 billion transactions every day –ensure that GS1 standards create a common language that supports systems and processes across the globe. Find out more at www.gs1.org
