Healthcare Use Case

Healthcare: TouchStar’s Smart EPOD System for a Challenging Environment

PODStar resolves disputes & eliminates credit notes ….. & a whole lot more!

Key Challenges in the Healthcare Sector & How TouchStar Solves Them

Planning, Scheduling, Delivering

In an NHS or hospital setting, deliveries play a crucial role in ensuring smooth operations. These deliveries can range from medical supplies and pharmaceuticals to food, equipment and patient-related items.

TouchStar offers mobile computing software and software solutions that address key delivery scenarios and potential logistics issues associated with them. Efficient hospital logistics require robust supply chain management, contingency planning, and real-time tracking to mitigate these issues.

The following are examples of where we can assist.

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PodStar for Healthcare

1. Medical Supply Deliveries
Scenario Logistics Issues
  • Regular deliveries of consumables such as syringes, gloves, bandages, IV fluids, and PPE. Movement of surgical kits between departments pre & post surgery
  • Emergency replenishments for critical items like blood bags, oxygen cylinders, or surgical instruments.
  • Stock Shortages:  Supply chain disruptions leading to delayed deliveries.
  • Equipment availability:  Exact location of items not determined.
  • Expired Stock:  Poor stock rotation leading to outdated items being delivered.
  • Last-Minute Orders:  Emergency requests causing logistical strain.

2. Pharmaceutical Deliveries
Scenario Logistics Issues
  • Scheduled delivery of medications to hospital pharmacies or to remote patients.
  • Controlled drugs requiring special handling and secure transport.
  • Just-in-time delivery for high-cost or rare medications.
  • Cold Chain Requirements:  Some drugs require strict temperature control (e.g., vaccines, biologics).
  • Security Risks:  Risk of theft or misuse of controlled substances.
  • Regulatory Compliance:  Adherence to MHRA and NHS guidelines.
  • Incorrect Shipments:  Errors in medication type, dosage, or quantity.

3. Pathology Collection & Deliveries
Scenario Logistics Issues
  • Transport of blood, tissue, and other diagnostic samples between hospitals, clinics, and labs.
  • Time-sensitive deliveries for urgent test results.
  • Time Sensitivity:  Delays impacting patient diagnosis and treatment.
  • Security Risks:  Risk of theft or misuse of controlled substances.
  • Temperature Control:  Samples requiring refrigeration or freezing.
  • Full Chain of Custody:  Eliminate the risk of losing any samples.

4. Patient Transport & Records Deliveries
Scenario Logistics Issues
  • Physical transportation of medical records for patients moving between hospitals.
  • Delivery of diagnostic images (e.g., X-rays, CT scans) if digital transmission is unavailable.
  • Data Protection Risks:  Confidential records being lost or mishandled
  • Transition Delays:  Delays in record transfer affecting treatment decisions.

5. Food & Catering Deliveries
Scenario Logistics Issues
  • Daily deliveries of fresh food for patient meals and staff canteens.
  • Special dietary requirement deliveries (e.g., allergen-free, halal, kosher meals).
  • Spoilage Risks:  Perishable food requiring prompt refrigeration.
  • Supply Chain Disruptions:  Delays affecting meal planning.
  • Allergen Contamination:  Risk of cross-contamination during handling.

6. Linen & Waste Collection Services
Scenario Logistics Issues
  • Regular collection of soiled hospital linens and delivery of fresh supplies.
  • Removal of medical waste, including sharps, biohazards, and general refuse.
  • Biohazard Risks:  Improper handling of infectious waste.
  • Cross-Contamination:  Mixing of clean and contaminated linen.
  • Delays in Collection:  Overflowing waste bins causing hygiene issues.

7. Emergency & Out-of-Hours Deliveries
Scenario Logistics Issues
  • Urgent medical supply deliveries during crises (e.g., pandemics, mass casualty events).
  • Emergency repair parts for critical hospital systems (e.g., power generators, oxygen supply).
  • Limited Availability:  Difficulty sourcing items outside standard working hours.
  • Delays Due to Traffic:  Urban congestion affecting response times.
  • Supplier Readiness:  Vendors not having stock for immediate dispatch.

Tackling Healthcare Challenges with PodStar

Explore Key Features

Real-Time Tracking & Visibility

How PodStar helps

  • Mobile devices with GPS tracking allow hospitals to monitor external deliveries and inter-departmental movements in real-time.
  • EPOD systems can provide instant updates on shipment status, estimated arrival times, and delays.

Issues Addressed

  • Stock Shortages: Hospitals can track deliveries and reorder in advance.
  • Emergency Deliveries: Live tracking ensures urgent items arrive on time.
  • Equipment Location: Real-time information on exact equipment location.

Digital Proof of Delivery & Compliance

How PodStar helps

  • EPOD systems capture digital signatures, timestamps, and photographic proof of delivery.
  • Reduces disputes over lost or incorrect deliveries.
  • Ensures compliance with NHS regulations and handling protocols.

Issues Addressed

  • Incorrect Shipments: Immediate verification of received goods.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Ensures that controlled drugs and sensitive items are properly handled.
  • Data Protection Risks: Secure digital records reduce paperwork loss

Routing & Fleet Management

How PodStar helps

  • Route efficiency maximised to reduce delivery times and fuel costs.
  • Mobile computing allows drivers to receive dynamic route adjustments based on traffic conditions.

Issues Addressed

  • Traffic Delays: Efficient routing reduces delivery time for critical supplies.
  • Emergency & Out-of-Hours Deliveries: Faster response for urgent needs.
  • Logistics Bottlenecks: Improves efficiency in high-demand situations

4. Cold Chain & Environmental Monitoring

How PodStar helps

  • Monitoring of temperature-sensitive deliveries (e.g., vaccines, blood samples).
  • Automated alerts trigger corrective actions if temperatures deviate.

Issues Addressed

  • Cold Chain Failures: Prevents spoilage of pharmaceuticals and biological samples.
  • Lab Sample Transport Issues: Ensures sample integrity for accurate diagnostics.
  • Food Spoilage Risks: Guarantees proper storage of perishable hospital food supplies.

5. Instant Product Recognition with Barcode Scanning

How PodStar helps

  • Instantly identifies stock items and site attendance with mobile barcode scanning.
  • Triggers automatic reordering through EPOD-WMS integration when stock is low.

Issues Addressed

  • Accuracy: Ensures correct items are loaded and delivered.
  • Site Attendance: Operators scan barcodes on arrival and departure.

6. Secure Handling of Controlled Substances

How PodStar helps

  • Digital authorisation ensures that only authorised personnel can accept deliveries.
  • Audit trails provide transparency for narcotics and sensitive medications.

Issues Addressed

  • Security Risks: Prevents theft or misuse of controlled drugs.
  • Incorrect Medication Shipments: Reduces errors through digital verification.
  • Regulatory Non-Compliance: Ensures adherence to strict NHS handling protocols

7. Faster and More Efficient Waste & Linen Management

How PodStar helps

  • Scanning technologies track linen cycles and waste disposal.
  • Our system allows quick scheduling and route adjustments for waste collection.

Issues Addressed

  • Delayed Waste Collection: Ensures timely disposal of hazardous waste.
  • Linen Cross-Contamination: Tracks soiled vs. clean linens in real time

Why PODStar for Healthcare

End-to-End Control:

From job planning to delivery confirmation, every step is digitised and traceable.

Scalable & Configurable:

Works for small fleets or large operations, with bespoke options available.

Customer Satisfaction:

Faster invoicing, fewer disputes, and better communication improve client relationships.

Delivering Solutions Across the UK

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The Bread Factory
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Delivering EPOD Across the UK

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Herts FullStop is the UK’s fastest growing Education supplier. It’s turned proof of delivery into an electronic, real-time process with PODStar.
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QE Facilities is a well-established wholly owned subsidiary company of Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust. It’s transformed and optimised route planning using PODStar.
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Construction

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V J Technology (VJT) is one of the UK’s leading distributors of fixings, fasteners and building consumables, supplying some of the most renowned names in construction and civil engineering. It’s linked PODStar to its ERP system for a real-time view of deliveries
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Voestalpine Metsec

Voestalpine Metsec select EPOD system from Manchester-based TouchStar Technologies. Voestalpine Metsec plc is the UK’s largest specialist cold roll-forming company, providing products for the construction and manufacturing industries. It chose TouchStar to meet its ‘on time delivery’ customer promise.
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Acorn sought a system that would optimise its delivery operations. After an extensive and thorough examination of available systems the Acorn management team selected the ‘PODStar’ Electronic Proof of Delivery system from Manchester-based Touchstar Technologies.
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Houghton's of London Case Study

Houghton’s sought a system that would optimise its delivery operations. After an extensive and thorough examination of available systems the Acorn management team selected the ‘PODStar’ Electronic Proof of Delivery system from Manchester-based Touchstar Technologies.
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