CONTRIBUTOR

Jean-Claude Saghbini
Healthcare industry expert
I have always been passionate about technology’s ability to transform healthcare, and more specifically, about how “smart” inventory technology can be one of the main drivers of cost reduction in our evolving healthcare space. Reflecting on the changes we’ve seen in the past 20 years, I’m proud at how far we’ve come as an industry with innovations like the use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and even more excited for what’s coming next.
Where we were
Around 2005, when RFID in healthcare was in its infancy, our team (a part of Wavemark, before being acquired by Cardinal Health in 2013) conducted its first RFID installation, at a hospital in New York. At the time, we were excited about the potential cost savings RFID could deliver. But, in retrospect, we were only beginning to realize its potential.
Back then, we weren’t focused on a true healthcare “continuum.” We mostly saw department-level RFID deployments, designed simply to optimize inventory and remove waste. Our first RFID installation, for a single Cath Lab department, was an example of a connected technology that not only showed promise, but delivered incredible results. The success hinted at what we could do on a larger scale.
Today, healthcare is in the midst of a transformation as we face the challenges of evolving market dynamics. Advanced inventory management technology is the foundation upon which we can build a data-enabled and connected supply chain based on real-time data capture. This will be essential for meeting increased demands to reduce operating costs while improving care because it enables Integrated Delivery Networks (IDNs) to automate processes and integrate with multiple data sources, including patient records. The efficiency and savings gains from this connected supply chain promise to free up resources for improved “service at the bedside” and patient satisfaction.