Sunkist Launches New GS1 Barcode Label; Country of Origin Included
Say goodbye to the old, familiar blue oval sticker you’re probably used to seeing on Sunkist premium citrus fruits. As soon as the company depletes its current stock of those old blue brand-familiar stickers, they will phase in a new GS1 DataBar label the company says includes embedded information such as a registered Sunkist identification number, the citrus variety,...
UDI Perspectives and Timetables Explained by FDA Senior Advisor in Recent Article
This is an important update to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) timelines for UDI (Unique Device Identification) implementation deadlines. It comes by way of a recently published article entitled, “The FDA’s Take on Unique Device Identification,” authored by Jay Crowley who is senior advisor for patient safety for the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Devices...
A ground-breaking white paper: Compliance with UDI Labeling Mandates: A Proven Methodology
We have a brand new and very compelling White Paper just out. Compliance with UDI Labeling Mandates: A Proven Methodology, was produced because, as the introduction states: There has never been a better or more urgent time for manufacturers of healthcare products to make a close examination of their product labeling systems. If you read...
Annual Cost of Foodborne Illness in US: $152 Billion
Thanks to a recent initiative of The Pew Charitable Trusts, for the first time in American history someone has finally put a price tag on what it costs people in the United States each year who get sick from bad food. After crunching all the numbers, the grand total comes to $152 billion (yes, that’s...
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Barcode Design Creative Options from Japan
Many people think barcodes are pretty homely. Packaging design professionals, in particular, often
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Barcode Scanning Mandate in South Australia is Cutting Dispensing Errors in Half
Starting last July, all pharmacies in South Australia were required to start using barcode scanners. Now, about five months later, the early results show a decrease in errors of 50%, according to this article from Pharmacy News. I’m intrigued, however, by the comments of Peter Halstead,
VHA Asks FDA for Speedy UDI Decision; Inclusion of Only GS1 Standards as Single Mandatory Solution
This news comes from Healthcare Purchasing News: VHA Inc. and 13 of its largest health system members have sent a letter to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration requesting prompt issuance of Unique Device Identification (UDI) regulations, and that those regulations include GS1 supply chain standards. At this link, you can see the full release direct...
Bedside Barcodes Help, But Nurses Mobilize to End Distractions, Too
According to Joanne Mette, chief nursing officer at Kaiser Permanente in Hayward and Fremont [California] . . . nurses can be interrupted five to 10 times in the course of giving one medication. Her story, and that of other San Francisco bay area hospitals attempting to reduce medication errors is featured in this San Francisco...
GS1 Releases GPC Codes for Drugs and Medical Devices
At this site, GS1 Healthcare has made the following announcement: To support the immediate
Another Example of Why We Need GS1 and Patient Bedside Barcoding Now!
Okay, yet another example of how bedside medication and barcodes is clearly needed in every hospital now! This recent article includes a brief mention of how the Veterans Affairs health system implements bedside barcoding:
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Anniversary of 1st Barcode Patent Honored by Google
Today is the 57th anniversary of the first barcode patent. Apparently that interested Google enough to devote one of their famous doodles to mark the occasion. At this Examiner.com article you can see the result and a quick overview of why so many people are fans of the technology.
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Pharmacists' Professional Society Offers Barcode Problem Reporting Center
If you’re not familiar with the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) — and especially if you are a pharmacist — you may want to check them out.
GHS and Regulatory Labeling Challenges in the New Era 
