Integrating supply chain data standards in healthcare operations and Electronic Health Records

Electronic Health Records (EHRs) together with supporting information systems offer myriad possibilities for system wide improvements to data access, work flow and integrated information exchange. Parallel to these developments providers must implement supply chain based data standards to their operations in order to realize system interoperability and comprehensive data integration. Supply chain data standards are universal, unique and unambiguous identifiers for products and locations. Integrating supply chain standards in provider processes, clinical workflow, and ultimately in EHRs offers an ability to track products, serves as a basis for cost and clinical effectiveness, improves patient safety and quality outcomes. In this paper, we present the significance and benefits of adopting and transacting using supply chain data standards, improvement areas within provider operations, potential advantages of integrating supply chain standards with EHRs and barriers to healthcare provider implementation.