Medical device manufacturers leverage tracking technology and loaner management software to gain insights into their trunk and consignment inventory.
The technology and processes are now available to enable real-time visibility of trunk inventory, loaners, consignment, and even in the warehouse.
Electronic RFID tags that allow full tracking in the field automate the data collection. The battery-free trackers are totally field-proof from the warehouse to the trunk and the SPD for re-processing and are designed to be put on all types of metal and plastic trays, cassettes, containers.
Loaner System And Real-Time Tracking
Loaner systems get full support from consignment inventory management features as part of integrated solutions such as:
By incorporating tracking capabilities into their workflows, medical device manufacturers benefit directly from streamlining their field inventory, as well as its location and identification.
The benefits of digitization extend to the institutions, where increased asset availability helps improve patient outcomes thanks to better surgical case coordination, scheduling between institutions and vendors, shorter pre-op notification lead-time, and increased overall accountability.
How RFID Technology Helps With UDI Compliance
RFID tracking systems assist manufacturers in complying with UDI regulations by streamlining processes and ensuring accuracy.
One of the key benefits of RFID tracking systems is their ability to facilitate automated and accurate surgical counts. By utilizing RFID technology, healthcare organizations can effortlessly track and identify instruments used during surgeries, minimizing the risk of errors and discrepancies. This not only enhances patient safety but also enables precise billing for surgical services, ensuring transparency and efficiency in financial operations.
Moreover, RFID instrument tracking systems provide comprehensive tracking of instrumentation throughout their lifecycle. By seamlessly integrating with existing systems, these systems enable manufacturers to achieve end-to-end traceability, a critical requirement of UDI regulations. This ensures that each instrument can be easily identified and monitored, from production to usage, thereby meeting the compliance standards set by regulatory bodies.
Additionally, RFID tracking systems are designed to meet UDI requirements. This means that the systems are capable of capturing and storing the necessary UDI information, facilitating accurate documentation and reporting. By leveraging RFID technology, manufacturers can seamlessly incorporate the required UDI data into their tracking systems, ensuring compliance with regulatory guidelines.
Managing Loaner Instruments In SPD
Sterile Processing teams are still learning to deal with the added complexity of loaner instrumentation management, and medical device tracking can help.
The increased number of loaner trays, containers, and cassettes poses a logistical challenge, which is exacerbated by the impact on patient safety and service quality:
- How do I decontaminate, process, and handle instruments that are uncommon, rare, or complex?
- How do I get access to their count sheets and usage instructions?
- How can I learn about a loaner set’s history records and document its reprocessing information at the facility?
While the use of loaner instrumentation may be temporary, the SPD is responsible for cleaning, sterilization, maintenance, and inventory integrity while in the custody of the healthcare institution. As a result, any tracking technology considered must be safe for all processing methods, particularly sterilization: ETO, cold solutions, autoclave/dry heat…
Loaner System For The OR
The OR will focus on get the right instrumentation sets, on time, and in the right room, as with all required instrumentation.
Technology is already available at hand with scheduling systems such as Cerner, EPIC, Meditech, but more than often, loaner instruments are not fully tracked.
In addition to reducing inventory-related OR delays, instrumentation sets will be built based on physician preferences. Each instrumentation set prepared for a specific case is labeled to assist perioperative nurses in proactive patient safety.
Tracking with Barcodes or with RFID?
Medical device manufacturers are not new to trunk inventory with many looking at upgrading their tracking solutions to RFID. The technology is taking over from the first-generation loaner and consignment program tracking solutions that used barcodes, QR codes, and other camera/computer vision technologies.
The rationale behind the technology upgrade is found in several operational advantages over older tracking solutions. Used with the right medical device tracking software, RFID enables real-time inventory tracking. It allows for inventory automation and is fully operational in the OR, SPD, and in the field, providing full data accuracy.
Moreover, the unique identifiers provided by RFID tags are UDI-compliant for full traceability from manufacturer to patient. RFID has a long history of usage in hospitals and is fully interoperable with existing systems, facilitating the upgrade and its deployment at the facility.
RFID for Surgical Trays and Containers
The RFID tracking devices come in the form of Passive UHF RFID tags designed to be attached to the surgical loaner trays, containers, and cassettes. The RFID tags are made of medical-grade materials such as 316L stainless steel and engineered plastics. They are shock-resistant and processing-safe, being designed to withstand standard processing and sterilization methods.
The RFID tags fit both metal and plastic trays and take advantage of existing holes on surgical trays to provide a perfect fit using rivets or screws. The addition of metal inserts ensures a solid bond with the trays throughout the rigors of processing, while the option to use screws allows for easy removal or replacement if required.
Xerafy is a pioneer in RFID for Healthcare and Medical applications, bringing to market critical technological innovations that enable advanced identification and automation capabilities.
In addition to a complete range of field-proven RFID tags available off-the-shelf, Xerafy offers Custom RFID Tags services, covering everything from a personalization service bureau to custom design engineering capabilities.
