Is UDI’s Assumed Application to Class III Medical Devices Connected with Serialization Initiatives?

At this point, there are no serialization or track and trace mandates in the United States that apply to medical devices. There are a number of activities in the pharmaceutical space for drug track and trace, specifically FDA’s Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) legislation that requires eventual serialization of pharmaceutical products. There is nothing like this in the realm of medical devices.

Currently, UDI is solely concerned with medical device identification and its associated metadata. All stakeholders throughout the life cycle of the device should utilize UDI, but there is no mandate to either serialize or manage the traceability of the device the way there is within the pharmaceutical space.  If, in the future, serialization initiatives move into the medical device space, UDI could support this.

USDM Life Sciences will help you assess, plan and execute the changes and enhancements necessary to meet UDI regulations. Our team of UDI experts will assess your products, the markets where they are sold and determine an implementation strategy for the changes that need to be made. USDM's assessment methodology is extensive and includes the labels and packaging, the management of identification changes to each product, the changes to PLM, ERP, EPCIS and packaging systems, changes to printing, vision inspection and warehouse/inventory management systems and interfaces to the GUDID.

How Does the UDI Rule Address Subcomponents or Accessories in Regards to the Statement that Every Medical Device Needs UDI?

Although the words “accessory” and “component” are often used as generic terms when discussing devices, they each have regulatory definitions. From a regulatory perspective, “accessories” are specific objects that work with finished medical devices and are therefore regulated devices in their own right and subject to UDI. “Components” are defined as objects that manufacturers acquire or build and then use to create medical devices. These are not put into commercial distribution. Therefore, UDI does not apply to components. UDI applies to finished medical devices and accessories that are put into commercial distribution, sold, and distributed.

USDM Life Sciences will help you assess, plan and execute the changes and enhancements necessary to meet UDI regulations. Our team of UDI experts will assess your products, the markets where they are sold and determine an implementation strategy for the changes that need to be made. USDM's assessment methodology is extensive and includes the labels and packaging, the management of identification changes to each product, the changes to PLM, ERP, EPCIS and packaging systems, changes to printing, vision inspection and warehouse/inventory management systems and interfaces to the GUDID.

UDI is Paradigm Shift for Healthcare

It is a new year and the healthcare world is ever evolving. The UDI Rule is in progress with manufacturers working to comply including submitting information to the GUDID. Meaningful Use Stage 3 was presented in October indicating the EHR software is to be capable of accepting the UDI. Use of the UDI within the healthcare provider is gaining adoption through means of software providers, clinicians, supply chain and information technology. The metadata associated with the use of the UDI is becoming more apparent and open for discussion on how to best manage and utilize the information.

The metadata will be collected from multiple systems across an organization using key terms to synchronize the data and generate meaningful reports in regards to purchase history, recalls, patient outcomes and reimbursement.

All that we do in regards to use of the UDI is patient safety focused. The paradigm shift requires implementation of a strategy by segment bringing together the stakeholders, discussing the influences, testing and proving the concept is possible to implement.

USDM Life Sciences offers healthcare a comprehensive assessment, strategy and solutions to implement end to end traceability of pharmaceutical and medical devices from point of receipt through to the electronic health record.

Is it Possible to Add Additional Product Data to What is Available Via the GUDID?

Yes, after getting UDI Connect into your Salesforce Org, go to the AppExchange and bring down the desired package. Once this happens, it is possible to add any field, pick lists, and look-ups from the Global UDI Database (GUDID) to the app. The app is highly customizable as USDM does not limiting like other managed packages. The application is flexible and designed in this way because USDM understands that all clients have different processes and practices as well as different intended uses for the application.

USDM Life Sciences will help you assess, plan and execute the changes and enhancements necessary to meet UDI regulations. Our team of UDI experts will assess your products, the markets where they are sold and determine an implementation strategy for the changes that need to be made. USDM's assessment methodology is extensive and includes the labels and packaging, the management of identification changes to each product, the changes to PLM, ERP, EPCIS and packaging systems, changes to printing, vision inspection and warehouse/inventory management systems and interfaces to the GUDID.

Do Systems Need to be Updated in Order to Handle New Quantities and What Best Practices Does USDM Believe Will Emerge?

Jean Sargent, Vice President of Healthcare Strategy and Implementation at USDM Life Sciences, has been speaking with numerous solutions providers in order to understand where they are in relation to capabilities to transact with the UDI data. From the perspective of the supply chain, most of the large supply chain solution providers already have the capabilities to handle the capabilities built into their systems. If this capability is not on a built in version, solution providers have determined a path that allows the utilization of this information using subfields. When there is an upgrade all of the information will be in the correct fields and this information can then be used for transactions.

USDM Life Sciences offers healthcare a comprehensive assessment, strategy and solutions to implement end to end traceability of pharmaceutical and medical devices from point of receipt through to the electronic health record.

Is an Immediate Wave of Product Labeling Changes from all Manufacturers Expected?

It has been over a year since the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) required that class III devices were to be labeled with Unique Device Identification (UDI). Despite the common sentiment that labeling regulation can cause a great deal of reorganization and work, the packaging label is valuable. If you already have a packaging string built into your Item Master, you simply associate each UDI with that packaging string. The UDI for a 4by4 will have a different number for the package, box, and case. Use of this information within the Item Master ensures orders will transact utilizing the correct UDI with the associated product.

USDM Life Sciences offers healthcare a comprehensive assessment, strategy and solutions to implement end to end traceability of pharmaceutical and medical devices from point of receipt through to the electronic health record.

UDI Expands, Questions Roll In, And Debate Over System Adoption Continues

Jay Crowley was interviewed for an article about the current state of the Unique Device Identification (UDI) program, persistent challenges for companies and what to expect in the year ahead.

Here is a link to the article. You need to be a subscriber or register for a free trial to The Gray Sheet to view the entire article.

As Vice President of the UDI Practice at USDM Life Sciences, Crowley helps medical device manufacturers achieve regulatory compliance as well as internal benefits and competitive advantage with UDI implementation.