GS1 Healthcare US Launches a New Provider & Dispenser Discussion Group

The GS1 Healthcare US Provider & Dispenser Discussion Group has been created to foster direct engagement with provider and dispenser stakeholders. This group will serve as a platform for sharing insights and identifying challenges that leverage GS1 Standards to help improve patient safety, operational efficiency, and data interoperability across the healthcare ecosystem. 

Scope 

The group will focus on: 

• End-user specific use cases for GS1 Standards in clinical and operational settings.
• Cross-sector collaboration to address shared challenges.
• Education/awareness around GS1 identifiers, barcoding practices, and traceability solutions. 

Objectives 

• Accelerate adoption of GS1 Standards in last mile workflows, including product identification, electronic messaging, and data synchronization.
• Support regulatory readiness by learning ways to leverage GS1 Standards to support Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA), Unique Device Identification (UDI), National Drug Code (NDC), and other regulatory requirements.
• Drive alignment with broader GS1 Healthcare US goals, including safer patient care, supply chain visibility, and digital transformation. 

 Timing 

• Discussion Group will meet monthly throughout the fourth quarter of 2025.
• Meetings will be one hour
• Starting in 2026, meetings will shift to a quarterly cadence
• Schedule may be adjusted as needed
• Interested participants can apply here.
• The first two meetings and topics are as follows:
   
  • GROUP 1: NOVEMBER 12, 2025, 2:00pm Eastern Time   
    Speaker: Kevin Capatch, Geisinger Health
    Topic: Leveraging GS1 Standards for Inventory Visibility
    Geisinger Health, like many large-scale healthcare institutions, used manual processes to store and replenish medical supplies. Realizing that manual processes can be a source of human error, Geisinger made an investment in technology that uses the latest identification standards in medical devices to eliminate manual processes, beginning in areas that use lifesaving implants, such as heart catheterization labs.  
     
• GROUP 2: DECEMBER 10, 2025, 2:00pm Eastern Time      
  Speaker: David Aguero, St. Jude
  Topic: Last-mile DSCSA Challenges for Dispensers
  As the US Drug Supply Chain Security Act comes to its final compliance state many stakeholders are still struggling with having established processes and systems to handle the traceability requirements. David Aguero, St. Jude’s Pharmacy Informatics Residency Director will discuss some of the most common challenges facing dispensers in that “last-mile” of the pharmaceutical supply chain and offer thoughts on how to overcome some of the barriers. 

Discussion Group Participants 

This group is open to healthcare providers, dispensers, licensed healthcare professionals and last mile supply chain stakeholders who are responsible for or interested in healthcare clinical, operational, and supply chain processes. Membership with GS1 US is not required. 

Your participation will: 

• Help ensure provider perspectives are central to the evolution of GS1 Standards.
• Advance the implementation of GS1 standards across the healthcare continuum.
• Highlight through peer discussions the benefits of GS1 standards. 
• Foster collaboration with peers to understand barriers and approaches to overcome them.