View Article
Update on GDSN for healthcare
Global Implementation Initiative
In May 2009, GS1 Healthcare launched a user-led initiative to take steps towards the global use of the Global Data Synchronisation Network (GDSN) for healthcare products.
Leading healthcare organisations have joined this initiative, including:
From the ‘demand side’:
- Healthcare providers: Aurora Health Care, PHP Hospitals, Sisters of Mercy, University Community Hospital (Tampa), University Hospital Augusta, University of Kentucky, University of Mississippi Medical Center, and Waldo County General Hospital
- Group Purchasing Organisations: Amerinet, Novation, and Premier
- Pharmacy: Walgreens
- Distributors: Cardinal Health, De Kroyft-Metz, and Owens and Minor.
From the ‘supply side’:
- Alcon, B Braun, Baxter, Becton Dickenson, Cook Medical, CR Bard, Johnson-Johnson, Kimberly-Clark, Linde Healthcare, Sage Products, and Upsher-Smith.
This has already resulted in 50 live connections; 29 more are expected soon.
A sub-work team is developing an Implementation White Paper to assist all participants in all parts of healthcare arena (suppliers/manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers and GPOs) in implementing the use of GDSN. The document will outline the key tasks in making sure the implementation moves forward with little to no disruptions, and provide guidance by documenting what processes users have implemented already and address any key learning’s. The work team believes that implementation can be accelerated if everyone agrees to a few basic rules of engagement, in particular an agreed upon set of attributes and their use, and agreed upon responsibilities.
We intend to maintain a living document that would evolve and expand over time. The team is striving to complete version one with emphasis on Data Provider and Data Recipient (basic data sync) and publish it. A second version of the white paper will have additional information on GDSN data flows (or supply chain models) and will treat distributors as both “data source” and “data recipients”.
GDSN Healthcare Extension & Product Classification
Healthcare-specific data requirements will enhance the GDSN’s ability to support global healthcare needs. The Healthcare GDSN Extension Work Group has defined those additional healthcare data requirements, which will result in a Healthcare Extension for the GDSN in Q3 of 2010. The complete technical solution (XML for the GDSN messages and attributes) will be presented for review and eBallot during Q1.
The work team has also developed a product classification recommendation for healthcare to facilitate the implementation of GDSN in healthcare. GS1 has released two Global Product Classification (GPC) codes, one for drugs and another for medical devices.
- Drugs Brick Code: 10005845
- Medical Devices Brick Code: 10005844
Contact
For more information or to join one of the above work teams, contact Peter Alvarez