GTIN
Colloquially, many know GTIN as a barcode, but technically, GTIN is the number found beneath the barcode symbol itself, and can therefore also be used for other technologies such as 2D barcodes and RFID tags.
Colloquially, many know GTIN as a barcode, but technically, GTIN is the number found beneath the barcode symbol itself, and can therefore also be used for other technologies such as 2D barcodes and RFID tags.
Medication errors are the most frequent adverse events in the healthcare system and cost millions of kroner every year.
Denmark has untapped potential to improve patient safety by reducing medication errors. This potential can be realized by introducing mandatory barcode scanning when medication is administered to patients in hospitals. This is shown in a new analysis from the analysis firm Decisions, conducted on behalf of GS1 Denmark.
The analysis, which includes interviews with healthcare professionals and managers in the Danish healthcare system, shows that barcode scanning of medication does not occur every time it is administered to a patient.
The biggest barriers to achieving full barcode scanning are a busy work environment, missing barcodes, technical issues, habits, and a lack of training in new workflows. Therefore, a targeted national effort is needed to successfully implement barcode scanning during medication administration.
A national strategy for barcode scanning is crucial if we want to prevent patients from being harmed or dying due to incorrect medication, while also ensuring peace of mind for the staff. The first step is a nationwide requirement for scanning during medication administration, barcodes on all primary packaging, and departments must ensure that staff have the right equipment available, and, not least, that it is functional,” says Anne Marie Lei, Head of Public & Healthcare at GS1 Denmark.
Barcode scanning during medication administration has so many benefits for patients and staff that it should be made mandatory in Danish hospitals as soon as possible.
The benefits for patients are that the risk of medication errors is virtually eliminated when the medication and the patient's wristband are scanned during dispensing and administration. For staff, medication handling is made easier, and the risk of errors and uncertainty is reduced. To track progress, national targets should be set for the adoption of medication scanning in hospitals.
In England, the NHS and health authorities have launched the initiative “Scan for Safety” to improve patient safety, traceability, and efficiency through the use of barcodes and scanning technologies in the healthcare sector.
The purpose of “Scan for Safety” is to ensure that the right patient receives the right treatment at the right time. This includes the use of barcodes to track patients, medication, samples, and medical equipment throughout the treatment process. This helps to reduce human error and improve the efficiency of healthcare delivery.
Approximately 10 percent of medication in Danish hospitals is exempt from the AMGROS requirement for barcodes on primary packaging. If staff are to have the best possible opportunity to check and register medication via barcode, it is essential that there is a mandatory requirement for barcodes on all relevant packaging units.
In addition to the barcode requirement, functional equipment must be available to staff, along with the possibility of rapid support to prevent technical bottlenecks.
The stakeholder analysis “Experiences with barcode scanning in the Danish healthcare system” shows that a barrier is that the barcode does not work every time it is scanned. One of the reasons for this is that the product cannot be found in the system, and this problem can be prevented by scanning pharmaceuticals upon receipt at the hospital (and placing them in quarantine if they are not recognized).
Patient safety can only be maintained if it is possible to scan products during the administration and dispensing of medication, and therefore scanning errors should be actively prevented by hospitals and regions.
Barcode scanning is important for patient safety, and it should therefore be ensured that staff, both permanent employees and temporary staff, are familiar with the systems that make it possible to scan medication and can quickly get help if there are problems with a barcode.
Barcode scanning of medication has been implemented in a few places in the Danish healthcare system. To ensure national rollout and strong integration, a national strategy for the use of barcode scanning should be developed.
Furthermore, a national partnership should be established with relevant stakeholders such as Danish Patients, PharmaDanmark, the Association of Danish Pharmacies, the Danish Nurses Organization, Danish Regions, Local Government Denmark (KL), GS1, Sundhed Danmark, AMGROS, Lif, and the Danish Society for Patient Safety.
Haven't read the analysis yet? Receive it for free in your inbox
GS1Trade Image provides professional marketing and planogram images that meet retailers' requirements and imaging guidelines.
If you want to create your own product photos, we can also help you get certified.
GS1Trade Sync is a data pool for product data exchange that your trading partners can access.
GS1Trade Sync streamlines data exchange between trading partners because data only needs to be entered in one place. This increases the quality of product data and creates value for you - and the entire value chain.
GS1Trade Packaging is a packaging data system that gathers your packaging data in one place. The system ensures efficient collection, structuring, and declaration of packaging data, and makes it easy to exchange packaging data with other companies.
GS1Trade Exact ensures the quality of your product data. All physical products are checked against the data registered in GS1Trade Sync.
With this service, you get verified and quality-assured data that benefits the entire supply chain.
GS1Trade Transact handles the digital receipt of orders and the sending of documents to your customers. You can choose whether to integrate it with your financial system or access it online.
GTIN (also known as EAN) stands for “Global Trade Item Number” and is the number sequence shown beneath a barcode symbol.
GTIN (EAN) is a global standard used to uniquely identify digital and physical products, allowing the barcode to be scanned anywhere in the world throughout the supply chain.
A GLN (also known as EAN) allows you to uniquely identify physical, functional, legal, or digital entities. This can include the sender, receiver, buyer, seller, supplier, manufacturer, delivery location, billing location, store, or internal departments.
