EP#29 --- How Cleveland Clinic in Abu Dhabi transformed patient safety with just a simple scan
In this episode of SCAN/STORIES, discover how Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi became the first healthcare provider in the United Arab Emirates to implement GS1 standards at scale, transforming patient safety, supply chain visibility and product traceability through the power of a simple scan. Like many healthcare organisations, the hospital faced challenges with fragmented product data, inconsistent supplier labelling and limited visibility across pharmaceuticals, medical devices and operating room consumables. These gaps created operational inefficiencies, scanning failures and risks to patient safety, while making it difficult to accurately track products throughout their journey across the hospital. To address these challenges, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi launched a comprehensive transformation programme built on GS1 standards. Working closely with suppliers, clinicians, pharmacists and supply chain teams, the hospital standardised product identification using GS1 Global Trade Item Numbers (GTINs) and integrated GS1 barcodes across pharmacy, inventory, operating room and clinical workflows. The impact was significant. Scanning compliance increased from less than 50% to 95%, creating a dramatic improvement in traceability and visibility across the organisation. Barcode verification at receiving, dispensing and administration points strengthened medication safety, while automated identification reduced manual processes and improved the accuracy of operating room charge capture. The results extended beyond operational efficiency. The hospital enhanced patient safety through more reliable product identification, strengthened compliance with pharmaceutical regulations and created a more connected, data-driven healthcare environment where information could be shared and trusted across departments. This episode explores how global standards can help healthcare organisations move from fragmented processes to full traceability, demonstrating how trusted data, interoperability and collaboration can improve safety, efficiency and confidence across the entire continuum of care.
