Equipment

Staff will use one common computer with the L-Trace software to print labels. One new label printer is required. 

Process

• Packing: Staff would use a computer to run L-Trace which automatically controls Label View. They would select the required item from a minimal list of items.  It would also be possible to allocate the labels to a batch at the time of printing.
• Stock and Decontamination: Bulk labels can be printed for stock or decontaminated items. 
• Sterilising: It is possible to view all created labels and add them to a sterilisation batch. Doing this will allow the tracing of items to a batch.
• Usage: Recommended: Labels would be removed and placed on a patient sheet. This would then be entered into L-Trace. This would then provide traceability from the patient to the item to the batch.

Note: Since trays etc are not identified individually it is not possible to trace an item from patient to patient. This option will trace items in a batch to patients.

Traceability

CJD patient traceability No

Benefits

• Minimal setup time and expense.
• As few as only one PC is required.
• Database storage of information such as how many items are sterilised.
• Possible batching of labels giving traceability back to a batch.
• Possible recording of patient usage giving traceability from the batch to the patient. This also allows costs to be tracked to a surgery, surgeon or patient. 

Comments

This arrangement is a good starting point for a CSSD that wants the benefits of customised labels with minimal setup time.

The one PC will be used for as many functions as required which may be an issue as more is expected from the system. Expanding to Stage 2, however, is simple