Improving inventory management with Zebra Technologies

Similarly, the Trust wanted to minimise the involvement of clinical teams in forecasting and product quality assurance so they could focus more time on patient care.

Key Facts
• The Trust implemented Ingenica Solutions’ 360 IM for the management of stock and replenishment. It has been deployed in 16 theatres across 8 locations including the head and neck theatres, central stores, orthopaedical theatres and general theatres, and day surgery, intense therapy unit, high dependency unit and audiology.
• The Zebra MC18, a simple-to-use Android-based handheld mobile computer, operating Ingenica’s clinical mobility application, has the ability to scan multiple barcode formats and adjust in real-time product levels in Ingenica’s inventory management solution.
• The solution allows clinical teams to undertake several activities that previously could not be achieved. Now when a Health Care Assistant or scrub staff member removes an item and scans its barcode, the stock count is automatically updated within the specific location. The same applies when an item is returned.
• The entire deployment has realised benefits for the Trust including a 90% reduction in the time clinicians spend engaging in stock ordering and replenishment in the head and neck theatre. The solution has also reduced the level of storage space used, improved stock control and visibility, and ultimately improved patient care.
• This new inventory management solution is part of the Trust’s Scan4safety program, a barcode identification program that enables staff to track each patient through their hospital journey from admission to discharge. The resulting actionable insights enable hospitals to enhance the quality of patient care and improve medical stock management.
• The project is compliant with GS1 global standards for capturing and sharing health-related information