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Healthcare Vertical Guide

RackPlane for Healthcare & Medical Supply Management

This guide covers how to configure and use RackPlane for healthcare facilities, clinics, and medical supply management.


Table of Contents

  1. Overview
  2. Healthcare vs Datacenter
  3. Setting Up Healthcare Vertical
  4. Healthcare Terminology
  5. Healthcare-Specific Features
  6. Expiration Tracking
  7. Lot/Batch Number Tracking
  8. Par Level Alerts
  9. Compliance Considerations
  10. Use Cases

Overview

RackPlane's Healthcare Vertical Pack transforms the platform from datacenter asset management to medical supply and device management. This makes it ideal for:

  • Hospitals & Medical Centers - Track medical devices and supplies
  • Clinics & Practices - Manage medical equipment inventory
  • Medical Supply Companies - Distribution and inventory management
  • Research Facilities - Laboratory equipment and consumables
  • Pharmacies - Medication inventory with expiration tracking

Key Healthcare Features

Feature Description
Expiration Tracking Track expiration dates with automated alerts
Lot/Batch Numbers Full traceability for recalls
FEFO Ordering First Expired, First Out picking suggestions
Par Level Alerts Automatic reorder point notifications
Sterilization Tracking Track sterilization dates and cycles
Healthcare Terminology Medical supply-focused language throughout

Healthcare vs Datacenter

Terminology Comparison

Concept Datacenter Healthcare
Primary items Assets Supplies
Primary items (plural) Assets Supplies
Main location Datacenter Facility
Main locations (plural) Datacenters Facilities
Storage unit Rack Cabinet
Storage units Racks Cabinets
Deploy action Deploy Dispense
Return action Return Restock
Category Asset Type Supply Category
Status Status Supply Status
Storage area Storage Supply Room
Position U-Space Shelf

UI Differences

Datacenter View:

Dashboard > Datacenters > Primary DC > Racks > A01 > Assets
Button: "Deploy to Rack"

Healthcare View:

Dashboard > Facilities > Main Hospital > Cabinets > A01 > Supplies
Button: "Dispense from Cabinet"

Feature Differences

Feature Datacenter Healthcare
Power Efficiency Advisor ✅ Enabled ❌ Hidden
Rack Visualization ✅ Full U-slot view ⚡ Cabinet shelf view
Network Ports ✅ Enabled ❌ Hidden
Expiration Tracking ❌ Disabled ✅ Enabled
Lot/Batch Numbers ❌ Disabled ✅ Enabled
Par Level Alerts Optional ✅ Enabled
FEFO Suggestions ❌ Disabled ✅ Enabled

Setting Up Healthcare Vertical

Method 1: During Onboarding

When creating a new tenant, specify the healthcare vertical:

POST /api/v1/tenants/onboard

{
  "company_name": "City General Hospital",
  "admin_email": "admin@citygeneral.org",
  "admin_password": "SecurePassword123!",
  "vertical_pack": "healthcare"  # <-- Key setting
}

Method 2: Apply Preset to Existing Tenant

For existing tenants, apply the healthcare preset:

POST /api/v1/whitelabel/presets/apply

{
  "preset": "healthcare",
  "reset_terminology": true,    # Apply healthcare terminology
  "reset_features": true        # Enable healthcare features
}

Method 3: Via Settings UI

  1. Navigate to SettingsWhite-Label
  2. Click Vertical Pack tab
  3. Select Healthcare from the dropdown
  4. Click Apply Preset
  5. Confirm terminology and feature changes

Healthcare Terminology

Complete Healthcare Preset

{
  "item": "Supply",
  "items": "Supplies",
  "location": "Facility",
  "locations": "Facilities",
  "bin": "Cabinet",
  "bins": "Cabinets",
  "check_out": "Dispense",
  "check_in": "Restock",
  "category": "Supply Category",
  "categories": "Supply Categories",
  "lifecycle": "Supply Status",
  "storage": "Supply Room",
  "stock": "Inventory",
  "container": "Storage Location",
  "containers": "Storage Locations",
  "unit": "Shelf",
  "units": "Shelves"
}

Customizing Terminology

You can further customize for your specific context:

PUT /api/v1/whitelabel/terminology

{
  "location": "Hospital",
  "locations": "Hospitals",
  "bin": "Med Cart",
  "bins": "Med Carts",
  "item": "Medical Supply",
  "items": "Medical Supplies"
}

Example UI After Customization

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│   City General Hospital - Medical Supply Management         │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ 📊 Dashboard  │  📦 Medical Supplies  │  🏥 Hospitals  │      │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  Medical Supplies Expiring Soon:  12                         │
│  Low Inventory Alerts:            5                         │
│  Supplies Dispensed Today:        47                        │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Healthcare-Specific Features

Enabling Healthcare Features

Healthcare features are plugin-based. Enable them via:

PUT /api/v1/whitelabel/features

{
  "expiration_tracking": true,
  "lot_batch_numbers": true,
  "par_level_alerts": true,
  "sterilization_tracking": true,
  "power_efficiency": false,        # Hide datacenter feature
  "rack_visualization": false       # Hide datacenter feature
}

Available Plugins

Plugin Default Description
expiration_tracking ✅ On Track dates, get alerts
par_levels ✅ On Minimum stock alerts
sterilization Off Sterilization cycle tracking
compliance Off FDA/HIPAA compliance features

Expiration Tracking

Overview

The Expiration Tracking plugin helps healthcare facilities: - Track expiration dates on all supplies - Receive automated alerts before expiration - Suggest FEFO (First Expired, First Out) picking order - Generate reports on expiring and expired inventory

Configuring Expiration Tracking

PUT /api/v1/plugins/expiration_tracking/config

{
  "warning_days": 30,              # Alert 30 days before expiration
  "critical_days": 7,              # Critical alert 7 days before
  "enable_email_alerts": true,
  "alert_recipients": [
    "supply-manager@hospital.org",
    "pharmacy@hospital.org"
  ],
  "enable_fefo": true,             # Show FEFO picking suggestions
  "track_lot_numbers": true        # Enable lot number field
}

Adding Expiration Dates to Supplies

When creating or editing a supply:

{
  "name": "Surgical Gloves - Medium",
  "type": "consumable",
  "quantity": 500,
  "custom_fields": {
    "expiration_date": "2025-06-15",
    "lot_number": "LOT-2024-001234",
    "manufacture_date": "2024-01-15"
  }
}

Expiration Dashboard Widgets

The healthcare dashboard includes:

  1. Items Expiring Soon - Count by severity (warning/critical)
  2. Expired Items - Items past expiration date
  3. Expiration Calendar - Visual calendar view
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  🔴 Expiring in 7 days:   8 items                           │
│  🟡 Expiring in 30 days:  23 items                          │
│  ⚫ Already Expired:      2 items                           │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  [View Expiring]  [View Expired]  [Generate Report]         │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

FEFO (First Expired, First Out)

When dispensing supplies, the system suggests picking order:

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  FEFO Picking Order for: Surgical Gloves - Medium          │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  1. LOT-2024-001234  |  Expires: 2025-01-15  |  Qty: 50    │
│  2. LOT-2024-001456  |  Expires: 2025-02-20  |  Qty: 100   │
│  3. LOT-2024-002789  |  Expires: 2025-06-15  |  Qty: 350   │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Expiration Reports

Available reports:

[
  {
    "id": "expiration_summary",
    "name": "Expiration Summary",
    "description": "Summary of items by expiration status"
  },
  {
    "id": "lot_traceability",
    "name": "Lot Traceability Report",
    "description": "Track all items by lot number"
  },
  {
    "id": "waste_analysis",
    "name": "Waste Analysis",
    "description": "Analysis of expired and disposed items"
  }
]

Lot/Batch Number Tracking

Purpose

Lot numbers enable: - Recall Management - Quickly find affected items - Traceability - Track item history - Quality Control - Identify problematic batches - Compliance - FDA 21 CFR Part 11 requirements

Adding Lot Numbers

{
  "name": "Medication XYZ 100mg",
  "custom_fields": {
    "lot_number": "LOT-ABC-2024-00567",
    "ndc_code": "12345-6789-01",
    "manufacture_date": "2024-06-01",
    "expiration_date": "2026-06-01"
  }
}

Find all items by lot number:

GET /api/v1/supplies/search?lot_number=LOT-ABC-2024-00567

Response:
{
  "items": [
    {
      "id": 123,
      "name": "Medication XYZ 100mg",
      "lot_number": "LOT-ABC-2024-00567",
      "location": "Pharmacy - Shelf B3",
      "quantity": 50,
      "status": "in_stock"
    },
    {
      "id": 456,
      "name": "Medication XYZ 100mg",
      "lot_number": "LOT-ABC-2024-00567",
      "location": "ER Supply Cabinet",
      "quantity": 10,
      "status": "in_use"
    }
  ],
  "total_quantity": 60,
  "locations_affected": 2
}

Par Level Alerts

Overview

Par levels define minimum inventory thresholds. When stock falls below par level, alerts are triggered.

Configuring Par Levels

PUT /api/v1/plugins/par_levels/config

{
  "enable_alerts": true,
  "check_frequency": "hourly",
  "alert_channels": ["email", "dashboard"],
  "alert_recipients": ["supply-manager@hospital.org"]
}

Setting Par Levels per Item

PUT /api/v1/supplies/{id}/par-level

{
  "par_level": 100,           # Minimum quantity
  "reorder_quantity": 200,    # How much to order
  "reorder_lead_days": 5      # Days to receive order
}

Par Level Dashboard

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  ⚠️ Low Stock Alerts (Below Par Level)                      │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  Surgical Gloves - Medium    |  Current: 45   |  Par: 100  │
│  Gauze Pads 4x4              |  Current: 20   |  Par: 50   │
│  Alcohol Swabs               |  Current: 150  |  Par: 200  │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  [Generate Purchase Order]   [Dismiss All]                  │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Compliance Considerations

HIPAA Compliance

RackPlane supports HIPAA compliance for healthcare facilities:

  • Audit Logging - All access and changes logged
  • Role-Based Access - Limit data access by role
  • Data Encryption - Data encrypted at rest and in transit
  • Access Reports - Generate access audit reports

FDA 21 CFR Part 11

For facilities under FDA regulations:

  • Electronic Records - Complete audit trail
  • Electronic Signatures - User authentication
  • Data Integrity - Immutable audit logs
  • Traceability - Lot number tracking

Best Practices

  1. Enable Audit Logging - Capture all inventory changes
  2. Use Role-Based Access - Limit sensitive data access
  3. Regular Backups - Automated daily backups
  4. Lot Number Tracking - Always capture lot numbers
  5. Expiration Management - Review expiring items weekly

Use Cases

Use Case 1: Hospital Central Supply

Scenario: Large hospital managing medical supplies across multiple departments.

Configuration:

{
  "terminology": {
    "location": "Hospital Wing",
    "bin": "Supply Cabinet"
  },
  "features": {
    "expiration_tracking": true,
    "par_level_alerts": true,
    "sterilization_tracking": true
  }
}

Workflow: 1. Receive supplies at Central Supply 2. Record lot numbers and expiration dates 3. Distribute to department cabinets 4. Track usage via dispense actions 5. Receive low stock alerts 6. Reorder before depletion

Use Case 2: Clinic Medical Supplies

Scenario: Multi-location clinic network tracking basic medical supplies.

Configuration:

{
  "terminology": {
    "location": "Clinic",
    "locations": "Clinics"
  },
  "features": {
    "expiration_tracking": true,
    "par_level_alerts": false  # Manual reordering
  }
}

Use Case 3: Pharmacy Medication Management

Scenario: Hospital pharmacy tracking controlled and non-controlled medications.

Configuration:

{
  "terminology": {
    "item": "Medication",
    "items": "Medications",
    "check_out": "Dispense"
  },
  "features": {
    "expiration_tracking": true,
    "lot_batch_numbers": true  # Critical for recalls
  }
}


Quick Reference

Healthcare API Endpoints

Endpoint Description
GET /api/v1/plugins/expiration_tracking/expiring Get expiring items
GET /api/v1/plugins/expiration_tracking/expired Get expired items
GET /api/v1/plugins/expiration_tracking/fefo/{category} Get FEFO order
GET /api/v1/plugins/expiration_tracking/lot/{lot_number} Find by lot
GET /api/v1/plugins/par_levels/alerts Get low stock alerts
PUT /api/v1/supplies/{id}/par-level Set par level

Healthcare Dashboard Widgets

  • Expiring Items (30 days)
  • Expired Items Count
  • Low Stock Alerts
  • Recent Dispenses
  • Expiration Calendar

Terminology Quick Switch

# Switch to healthcare
POST /api/v1/whitelabel/presets/apply
{"preset": "healthcare", "reset_terminology": true}

# Switch back to datacenter
POST /api/v1/whitelabel/presets/apply
{"preset": "datacenter", "reset_terminology": true}

Next Steps