News: UDI (Unique Device Identifier) Healthcare Conference Focuses on reducing cost, enhancing patient safety

Last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) held its 2011 Unique Device Identification (UDI) Conference in Cambridge, MA. GHX served as a sponsor for the event, which provided the opportunity for representatives from throughout the healthcare supply chain to come together to discuss the challenges and opportunities around UDI implementation and use.

UDI Conference Overview: 11/30/11 – 12/01/11 –  Hyatt Regency Cambridge, Cambridge, MA

Presentation topics included:

  • Both Providers and Suppliers shared insights on how the UDI proposed rule will impact the way that they do business
  • How the healthcare industry can leverage the UDI system to improve both clinical & operational aspects of performance
  • Steps providers would need to take in order for UDI’s to be put implemented
  • Recall management
  • Integration of UDI & EHR (Electronic Health Record)

Keynote Presentation: UDI Healthcare, Industry Momentum & Progress

Speaker: Jay Crowley, Sr. Adviser for Patient Safety with the FDA Center for Devices and Radiological Health

Notes:

  • FDA UDI (Unique Device Identifier) Proposed Rule could be out before the end of 2011, and the agency is still anticipating a 2012 release of the final rule.
  • Crowley, addressing an audience of healthcare providers, suppliers and other industry representatives, stressed that assigning UDIs to medical devices is not the “end game” of the UDI initiative and that the ultimate goal is for trading partners to use the UDI system to improve efficiencies, reduce costs and most importantly, enhance patient safety.

Panel Discussion: “Transforming UDI Data into Knowledge”

Panelists: Corwin Hee, Director, eBusiness, Covidien;  Jay Crowley, Senior Advisor for Patient Safety, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Food & Drug Administration (FDA);  Michael Oliver, Information Technology Manager, Claflin Company;  Michael Innes, Program Director, Supply Chain Processes & Systems, Kaiser Permanente;  Tom Werthwine, Global Process Owner – Auto ID Technology and Data Standards, Johnson & Johnson
 
Overview: Every day, unseen databases are hard at work enabling automated processes in retail and grocery. How can we use UDI to bring these advances to healthcare? This panel will explore the myths and realities of the UDI rule and its vital relationship with the underlying data.

Corwin Hee, director, eBusiness, Covidien, summed it up by stating, “UDI must be a collaborative achievement throughout the supply chain because a standard isn’t a standard unless everybody is using it.”

For more news & information related to the FDA’s planned UDI Rule or the 2011 UDI Conference please visit here: https://www.udiconference.com/

Last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) held its 2011 Unique Device Identification (UDI) Conference in Cambridge, MA. GHX served as a sponsor for the event, which provided the opportunity for representatives from throughout the healthcare supply chain to come together to discuss the challenges and opportunities around UDI implementation and use.