Category Archives: RxTrace

The Future of RxTrace Has Arrived

If you are a frequent RxTrace reader, you might have notice that I haven’t
been writing for a while.  No, I haven’t been sick with Covid-19 (not yet
anyway) or sick with anything else.  No, I didn’t run for elective office in
the recent general election.  Any other theories?  In reality, I intended to
take the month of March off as a well-deserved vacation, and I did that.
Then, when Covid-19 hit, there wasn’t much to write about, mainly because of the uncertainty.  After that, I got busy with house remodeling projects and consulting.  And now I am announcing my retirement from most (maybe not all) consulting, and from RxTrace.

Continue reading The Future of RxTrace Has Arrived

ACTION REQUIRED: RxTrace Subscriber Update

To tell which type of notification email you are receiving, check the bottom line for the text “Email subscriptions powered by FeedBlitz. If you don’t see it, you are probably receiving the new WordPress notification emails. If you are confused, contact me.

Changes are coming to the way you connect with RxTrace.  Next month RxTrace will return to being free to everyone and open to all.  For the last year, all paid subscriptions have been pro-rated to end in March 2020.  As part of that approaching transition I will switch back to an email notification system that I used between 2010 and 2012.  It’s less configurable and less controllable…but it’s a free service!  What that means is, if you are currently receiving “Feedblitz” email notifications whenever new RxTrace essays are posted—whether on a paid or FREE subscriptionyou will need to “re-subscribe” to the “Wordpress” email notifications to continue receiving notices. Here’s how.

Continue reading ACTION REQUIRED: RxTrace Subscriber Update

Barcodes 45, RxTrace 10

The commercial use of barcodes began 45 years ago last week, and RxTrace began 10 years ago this week.  These are pretty incredible milestones and it is worth stepping back and thinking about what it all means.  GS1 issued a press release about the barcode’s 45th anniversary last week, providing links to several videos.  These include some old-timey videos of what grocery checkout was like before barcodes, and when the UPC barcode was first introduced in Troy, Ohio in 1973.  It made me feel old. 

Continue reading Barcodes 45, RxTrace 10

DSCSA and RxTrace: The Song Remains The Same

Led Zeppelin:  The Song Remains The Same album coverDrug manufacturers facing the November 27, 2017 deadline for applying unique identifiers to their products should take care when interpreting the FDA’s recent draft compliance policy.  All the headlines scream (including last week’s RxTrace essay:  “FDA Delays Enforcement of DSCSA November Deadline: What It Means”) that the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) serialization deadline is delayed, but there are important nuances to the delay.  Don’t just read the headlines, read the whole articles.  Officially, the deadline remains the same.  Yes, the FDA will look the other way for some drugs, but for others, the deadline still appears to apply.  How do you know if your drugs are those where the deadline still applies?  Read on. Continue reading DSCSA and RxTrace: The Song Remains The Same

My Handshake With Germany

image of my handshake offer to GermanyOur industry is international by nature.  Protecting patients from counterfeit drugs is partly a humanitarian mission and partly a business.  Consequently, I don’t worry much about who is looking for information on RxTrace.  I have happily fielded queries from Russia, China and even Iran, countries who are not always political “friends” of my beloved country. 

But what if a counterfeiter is seeking information Continue reading My Handshake With Germany

Seven

Presence (Led Zeppelin 7)
Presence (Led Zeppelin 7)

I started writing RxTrace seven years ago on July 4, 2009 (see “Welcome to rxTrace”).  Not much has changed in my goals since then.  My interests still revolve around the intersection between the healthcare supply chains, track and trace technology, standards and global regulatory compliance.  I still like exploring ideas, including those that might not be mainstream yet.  My only regret is Continue reading Seven

How RxTrace Became The Target Of A Counterfeiter

RXTRACE_LOGO_Trans_250x94
RxTrace is a registered trademark of Dirk Rodgers Consulting, LLC

The term “counterfeit” is usually defined as an unauthorized copy of a physical thing.  Here is how Dictionary.com defines it:

“[koun-ter-fit]

noun
3.  an imitation intended to be passed off fraudulently or deceptively as genuine; forgery.”

Counterfeiters seek to expropriate the good reputation, good will and trust in a recognized brand by deceit to carve out undeserved profit or other gain.  Their goal is to Continue reading How RxTrace Became The Target Of A Counterfeiter