GS1 Standards - the common 'language' for doing business.
GS1 standards are commonly used in many industries around the world, including retail and manufacturing. They provide a common 'language' for doing business. In practice, this means that specific medical devices can be tracked and traced across the world as they move through the supply chain. In the healthcare sector, GS1 standards enable the realisation of health and economic benefits related to automatic product identification, traceability and data synchronisation. Read more about the use of GS1 standards in healthcare at the GS1 website.
NHS eProcurement Strategy and GS1
Following the publication of the NHS eProcurement Strategy, in May 2014, the terms and conditions of doing business with the NHS have been amended to mandate the use of GS1 and PEPPOL standards. What this means for NHS trusts and the businesses that supply them is that they must work towards the adoption of GS1 standards across their supply chains. As a leading provider of supply chain technology to the healthcare industry, GHX is working with GS1 UK to make this journey as straightforward as possible. Read the full NHS eProcurement Strategy here.
We are GS1 ready
GHX is already an accredited 'GS1 Solution Provider'. This means we understand the requirements of GS1 standards and work to embed them across our solutions, for example, our efforts to drive GS1 XML CIN file format adoption and the publication of product data into our GDSN-certified healthcare-focused data pool, Health ConneXion. The GHX Nexus catalogue and contract management tool contains fields to carry the most commonly-used GS1 standard codes, including Global Trade Item Numbers (GTINs) and Global Location Numbers (GLNs). GHX PowerGate, our inventory management and supplies top-up solution, can also read standard GS1 barcodes and is GS1 certified.
How we can help with GS1 compliance
We can help you with the following:
- Alignment of GS1 Global Location Numbers (GLNs) in the GHX Exchange and communication of necessary information to trading partners.
- Reconciliation of account numbers to GLNs with trading partners for shipping and billing consistency.
- Advice and guidance from our experienced team about how to implement and benefit from GS1 Standards in your organisation, including GTINs, GLNs and GSRNs.
- We can put you in contact with the right person in the healthcare division of GS1 and work with them to implement global data standards in your organisation.
Working together to reach GS1 compliance
Leeds Case Study 2018
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is one of the largest and busiest acute hospital trusts in the UK. Despite its size and complexity Leeds has stayed at the cutting edge of e-Commerce in healthcare since beginning its partnership with GHX over 15 years ago. Then, as now, Leeds’ over-arching focus has been to provide high quality care to all its patients, all of the time. To enable this the trust recognised the need to focus not only on point of care processes, but also evaluate and refine other activities, constantly striving for greater efficiencies, improved patient safety and lower costs through the adoption of technology.
Learn more about global data standards, their impact on healthcare and how to work with us to enable their use. Our Global Standards Experts are available to answer any questions.
