Why should you attend:
Understand how the use of a unique device identification (UDI) system may improve patient safety, e.g., by reducing medical errors, facilitating device recalls, and improving medical device adverse event reporting. Understand some of the issues associated with the use of various automatic identification technologies (e.g., bar code, radiofrequency identification). On February 26, 2004, FDA published a final rule (the ``bar code rule'') (69 FR 9120 ) requiring bar codes on certain human drug and biological products to help reduce medication errors in hospitals and other health care settings. The bar code is intended to enable health care professionals to use bar code scanning equipment in conjunction with computerized medication administration systems to verify that the right drug, in the right dose, is being given to the right patient at the right time. This rule (now codified at 21 CFR 201.25 and 610.67) requires that manufacturers encode the unique National Drug Code (NDC) number in a linear bar code on the product's label. The bar code rule, however, does not apply to medical devices. In the bar code rule, FDA stated that, unlike drugs, medical devices do not have a standardized, unique identifying system comparable to the NDC number, and that the absence of such a system complicates efforts to put bar codes on medical devices for purposes of preventing medical errors. Since the issuance of the final bar code rule, various entities, including members of Congress and a consortium of hospital groups and manufacturers, have asked that the Agency revisit the issue of bar coding medical devices to improve patient safety; improve quality of care; and encourage cost effectiveness, e.g., of health care by improving delivery and supply chain efficiency.
Areas Covered in the Session:
Who Will Benefit: This webinar will provide a general overview and update to companies who need to better understand industry's and FDA's current overview of Unique Device Identification. The employees who will benefit include: