An Exploratory Pilot Study on Supply Chain Data Standards in a Hospital Pharmacy

Supply chain data standards provide unique and unambiguous references to products and locations, enable system level interoperability, facilitate barcode-based medication administration, and offer track-and-trace capabilities throughout the healthcare supply chain. Despite widespread consensus among industry stakeholders and many perceived benefits, healthcare providers are hesitant to implement these standards. Through an exploratory pilot study at a healthcare provider site focused on pharmaceutical operations, we identify the key challenges in implementing data standards in a pharmaceutical setting. In doing so, we document the required technology functionality, clinical and financial workflows, and information systems, as well as articulate the challenges in implementing data standards. The lessons learned from the study offer valuable insights for supply chain executives, engineering managers, and pharmacy directors to plan and implement GS1 standards in their facilities.