July 21, 2008 – The Premier healthcare alliance today became the first group purchasing organization (GPO) to endorse the GS1 supply chain standards, which will be required through Premier contracts with medical device manufacturers.
Use of the standards will reportedly allow for definitive identification of medical products and devices, tracking them through the healthcare system and placing them within a standardized product database, enabling rapid communication about any potential issues. Full adoption of the GS1 standards within contracting and operations at Premier will be implemented over the next five years.
GS1 standards adoption will be supported by Premier through changes to new contract agreements to include adoption commitments, as well as training and educational sessions for providers and suppliers. To help ensure smooth adoption by Premier alliance members, contracted suppliers and affiliates, a special task force will be created to facilitate the on-boarding process and successful registration.
The specific standards to be adopted include: Global Trade Item Numbers (GTIN), global location numbers (GLN) and a Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN).
For more information: www.premierinc.com
April 28, 2017 
