Complexities and capabilities of Scan4Safety in NHS hospitals: a qualitative study of a national demonstrator site

TL;DR

This study explores the implementation of the Scan4Safety program in an NHS hospital, examining its benefits and challenges in improving patient safety and hospital efficiency through barcoding and data standards.

Contribution

The study provides insights into the practical implementation of Scan4Safety in a real-world hospital setting, highlighting both enablers and challenges.

Findings

Scan4Safety benefits include tracking and tracing capabilities and automating data capture and alerts.

Challenges include data quality issues and trade-offs in work-as-done practices.

Successful implementation depends on factors like funding, stakeholder involvement, and consistent barcode scanning.

Abstract

Data standards and barcoding technologies are implemented in hospitals to uniquely identify objects, people and locations; streamline the management of supplies and inventories; improve efficiency; reduce waste and improve patient safety and quality of care. This study examined the implementation of the Scan4Safety programme at one NHS demonstrator site to understand the hospital experience of adopting these standards, barcoding and related technologies.

Exploratory case study design, informed by information infrastructure theory, at one Scan4Safety demonstrator site. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with internal and external stakeholders (n=19), and 67 documents related to the Scan4Safety programme were identified. Interview transcripts and documents underwent thematic analysis.

Key enablers for Scan4Safety included allocated funding, government role/regulation, executive buy-in/wide stakeholder involvement, patient focus, agile/adaptive approach and data linkage. Challenges were both internal and external, mainly pertaining to data quality, work-as-done and trade-offs. Mechanisms of anticipated positive outcomes and potential risks were also identified.

Scan4Safety benefits are delivered through tracking and tracing capabilities, and automating data capture, alerts and data linkages. For traceability of devices, the benefits depend on the extent to which items are tracked in inventory and consistent barcode scanning at the point of care.

Linked standards for identification of patients, products, places and procedures, across supplies and hospital processes, constitute a wide-ranging information infrastructure with the potential for significant value to patients and the whole health system.

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