An intriguing new report to be released Monday builds on an emerging movement to make health care cheaper, more transparent — and safer — by adopting the trappings of supply chain management. “For patients, it would be a complete game changer,” said Snowdon, a former nurse and professor at Windsor’s Odette business school. Alberta Health Services has begun a project to introduce GS1 identifiers — the international system of bar codes — more broadly within its facilities. And the wide adoption in health care of another trendy business idea — the Toyota Lean system — has had decidedly mixed results. As it turns out, most products in health care already have barcodes, used by manufacturers and distributors, but ignored once they reach the hospital loading dock, says Snowdon.

Source: National Post October 03, 2016 03:56 UTC