GS1 US® has published a new resource to help healthcare companies improve patient safety and supply chain efficiency by better leveraging unique product identification. The GTIN Adoption and Usage Model is a self-assessment tool for manufacturers and providers to gauge progress in adopting and using the Global Trade Item Number® (GTIN®), a globally unique identification number assigned to pharmaceutical products and medical devices to identify and track products in the supply chain. 

The resource offers a detailed implementation roadmap that can be used to assess specific capabilities needed to fully realize the benefits of GTIN implementation in healthcare, including streamlined operations, recall readiness, supply chain visibility, and meeting regulatory requirements, primarily FDA Unique Device Identification (UDI) and the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA). For example, healthcare providers can leverage GTINs as a standard identifier in their end-to-end processes – from the time an order is placed, to the delivery of the product, use of the product at the patient bedside and accurate recording of the product in the patient’s electronic health record. 

“Through our continued collaboration with the healthcare industry, we have identified three internal organizational factors that are critical to successful GTIN use: People, Process and Technology. The GTIN Adoption and Usage Model outlines actionable tasks in each area to help various organization types – manufacturers, distributors, healthcare providers, and solution providers – optimize GTIN usage for improved supply chain efficiency and better patient safety overall,” says Greg Bylo, vice president of healthcare, GS1 US.

The GTIN Adoption and Usage Model defines five progressive levels of usage, from basic awareness to the fully-integrated use of GTINs across a company’s internal and external systems. These levels represent increasing sophistication and corresponding benefits that can be realized. Organizations can quickly review the model to understand the full spectrum of GTIN adoption and assess their level of usage. Once an organization has determined their starting point, they can use the implementation roadmap to create plans to achieve subsequent maturity levels.

The GTIN Adoption and Usage Model was developed by GS1 Healthcare US, an industry initiative composed of manufacturers, distributors, healthcare providers, Group Purchasing Organizations (GPOs) and solution providers that collaborate to drive the adoption of GS1 Standards to solve supply chain challenges.  

To access the GTIN Adoption and Usage Model and other resources, please visit www.gs1us.org/healthcare.