Individual instrument traceability (T2I)
A Revolution in the Management of Reusable Medical Devices (RMD)
Individual Instrument Traceability represents a strategic turning point for healthcare institutions. By enabling precise tracking of each surgical instrument throughout its life cycle, it guarantees increased patient safety, resource optimization and strengthened regulatory compliance. Successfully implementing T2I requires a rigorous methodology and appropriate tools, but it is not as complicated as most people think.
Find out in this newsletter how to achieve this effectively using the InWay common language and the ATLAS InWay platform.
1. The challenges for a healthcare establishment
The implementation of T2I responds to several major challenges:
Patient safety : By reducing the risks of using non-compliant instruments or those suspected of carrying an infectious risk .
Cost and resource optimization : Better traceability reduces losses and improves inventory management, thereby limiting unnecessary expenses.
Interdepartmental collaboration: The additional information available facilitates communication between the different stakeholders around DMR management
Regulatory Compliance: With increasingly stringent standards for DMR tracking, T2I helps meet legal requirements
2. Data Mastery: The Key to Success
Before you start, it is essential to have reliable and structured data. Here’s why:
Initial inventory
It is not that complicated to make.
The compositions are seen almost daily by the recomposition agents and the traceability of the trays will allow to identify towards which compositions the efforts should be focused in the short, medium and longer term for their identification. With this in mind, Atlas becomes the guardian of the data and ultimately, holds the exact need of the surgical teams in its database.
Generic language, a pillar of harmonization
The generic language, such as that developed by InWay with Atlas, makes it possible to group together all the essential information on an instrument under a standardized reference.
Why is it crucial? Avoid duplicates or inconsistencies in databases. Facilitate communication between different stakeholders. Simplify stock requirement calculations and statistical analyses.
3. Physical interfaces: create and save data
For each DMR to be identified accurately, suitable interfaces are required:
Instrument labeling: Barcodes, QR codes or RFID chips are essential for rapid and reliable identification.
Reading and recording stations: These allow each instrument to be linked to its history, composition or intervention.
Stay generic: The recorded information must maintain a standardized and “batch” structure to fit into a centralized system, ensuring compatibility and ease of use.
Ease the transition: At the beginning of the implementation, not all instruments will be able to be engraved. This is another reason why simple generic referencing remains the norm.
4. Codification: from generic to unique
Instrument coding is essential to ensure individual traceability while remaining compatible with global management. The process can be simplified by using a hierarchical structure that starts with a generic code and then evolves to a unique code as new instruments are integrated into the system.
STEP 1 / Creation of the generic code
The generic code identifies the type of instrument and is the basis of all associated data. This code is common to all instruments in the same category.
5. From free to exclusive recomposition: a transition that is not obligatory but possible!
When introducing T2I, it is often necessary to start with a free recomposition , for several reasons:
Heterogeneity of the fleet: Older instruments, often not codified, require flexible management.
Learning phase: Sterilization and recomposition agents must get used to handling the new tools and data.
Maintaining free recomposition: It has the advantage of facilitating the routing of devices in the structure, while accurately tracing each DMR. It avoids numerous composition waits due to the lack of a specific device, since it accepts any identical DMR.
Possible progression towards exclusivity: Over time, and as obsolete instruments are replaced by codified devices, the transition to an exclusive recomposition becomes possible. This model guarantees even greater homogeneity and traceability.
Conclusion :
Atlas’ common language transforms T2I challenges into opportunities. Thanks to its generic structure, it enables:
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Rapid data standardization.
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Compatibility between different hospital tools and services.
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Simplified management of stocks and compositions.
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A smooth transition between free and exclusive recomposition methods.
By investing in a solution like Atlas, you provide your establishment with a modern, efficient and scalable tool to meet the challenges of DMR traceability and guarantee sustainable operational excellence.
Adopt T2I with Atlas, and get a head start!
Jean-Paul Averty
President and Founder of InWay SAS