GS1 Standards for more patient safety
In hospitals, patient safety and patient care have top priority. At the same time, healthcare facilities face the challenge of sustainably optimising their processes, working cost-efficiently and meeting increasing regulatory requirements - all while remaining competitive. The good news is that GS1 standards can help. They make a valuable contribution by linking the processes of patient care with clinical workflows, thereby creating the basis for digitalisation in hospitals.
Standards and digitalisation in the hospital
In our video, you will see how GS1 standards ensure maximum patient safety and patient care with optimal cost effectiveness. And how they create the conditions for sustainable digitalisation in hospitals and clinics by automating all processes.
Process optimisation for more patient safety and higher efficiency
The use of GS1 standards is elementary for automatic, interoperable solutions along the entire value chain - from the manufacturer to the patient. In hospitals and healthcare facilities, they make a valuable contribution to sustainable digitalisation as well as to maximum patient safety and patient care
with optimal efficiency. Because with these, the processes in purchasing, logistics and the clinical patient pathway can be designed safely, efficiently and transparently.
Videos (in german)
Your benefits
Patient and supply safety
GS1 standards enable efficient traceability and best possible transparency in real time
More speed and cost efficiency
GS1 standards support the automation of all processes along the entire supply chain
Interoperability
GS1 standards are open, technology-independent and internationally applicable
Time and resource savings
GS1 standards ensure a significant reduction in documentation and administrative effort
The GS1 identification keys (e.g. GTIN, GLN) are precisely defined character strings with fixed lengths that enable unique referencing in information systems to physical units such as trade units, transport units, returnable transport containers, locations, and service relationships.
Products
With the GTIN (Global Trade Item Number), medical devices and medicinal products are uniquely identified worldwide. The UDI (Unique Device Identification) can be implemented with the GS1 system and the FMD (Falsified Medicine Directive) even explicitly requires the GS1 system. At GS1 Switzerland, different options are available to identify your products.
The GLN (Global Location Number) is used for the identification of places and locations, e.g. hospital warehouses, buyers and suppliers. In Switzerland, the GLN also uniquely identifies persons in the healthcare industry. Electronic data exchange also requires the use of GLN. For more about the GLN click here
Transport units
The SSCC (Serial Shipping Container Code) is used, for example, for transport pallets. This uniquely identifies transport units in the open supply chain. With GS1 Print you can easily create your SSCCs (SSCC Flyer) free of charge. The prerequisite is a number range from GS1 Switzerland.
Persons
The GSRN (Global Service Relation Number) is used for patients and staff. With the GSRN you not only uniquely identify your employees, but also your patients. This identification is the basis for "bedside scanning". More about this in our video.
Capital goods
GIAI numbers (Global Individual Asset Identifier) are used for the unique identification of your fixed assets, for example, a surveillance monitor.
Reusable capital goods
GRAI numbers (Global Returnable Asset Identifier) are used for the identification of internally used transport equipment and reusable containers. This means that you always have your internal shipments under control.
In order to be able to read GS1 identification numbers and other information, such as best-before date, batch or serial number, automatically and thus quickly and without error, defined data identifiers (AI) and standardised data carriers are used.
With our data carriers - the GS1 barcodes - the identification numbers and other product data are made machine-readable and can be captured automatically. They are secure and easy to read because this is a proven, globally uniform and ISO-supported standard. In the healthcare industry, three symbols are primarily used as well as RFID.
Another major advantage is the use of the GS1 Application Identifiers (AI). Only the GS1 Application Identifiers make it possible to read the GS1 identification numbers (e.g. GTIN, GSRN and GLN) and other information, such as batch and expiry date, in a secure and structured manner. The AIs are encoded directly in the GS1 barcode. This ensures holistic labelling. The flyer "The GS1 Application Identifier" provides detailed information on the use and advantages of AI.
Video: "What happens when a barcode is read".
GS1 Barcodes:
- EAN-13 barcode: linear barcode
- GS1-128 barcode: linear barcode
- GS1 DataMatrix: two-dimensional code
- RFID: in addition to GS1 barcodes, you can also use RFID technology
Areas of application:
- medical devices and medicinal products
- patient wristbands
- employee ID cards
- bedside scanning process
- rooms and storage areas
- IT-supported supply processes
GS1 standards for data exchange define how information can be shared across an entire supply chain network. They provide the basis for electronic business transactions and provide transparency by linking the digital world with the real world.
With GS1 standards as a common language, business partners can seamlessly exchange information. Accordingly, standards support data synchronisation as well as the exchange of transaction, master and physical event data across the entire value chain.
GDSN for valid master data
The Global Data Synchronisation Network - GDSN for short - enables the immediate electronic sharing of standardised, up-to-date product data and automated data exchange. This is particularly important for valid master data.
EDI for transactions
With GS1 EDI (Electronic Data Interchange), the electronic exchange of data, you use defined exchange formats for purchase orders, delivery documents and invoices. This enables the parties involved to communicate quickly, securely and transparently with each other.
EPCIS for physical event data
The Electronic Product Code Information Service - EPCIS for short - enables business partners to record and communicate events along their value chain. This makes it clear at any time what has been done with a product, where and for what purpose, and the chain of ownership or custody becomes transparent.
