Unique Device Identification (UDI) barcodes aren't recorded in most EHRs

The FDA mandated Unique Device Identification (UDI) barcodes on all medical devices by 2020, but the vast majority of hospitals still do not scan and record UDIs in patient electronic health records at the point of implantation. When a device is recalled, hospitals must manually search paper surgical logs or billing codes to identify affected patients, a process that can take weeks or months and routinely misses 15-30% of patients. People walk around with recalled hip implants or hernia meshes for months because no one can efficiently find them. This persists because EHR vendors charge six-figure fees to add UDI capture fields, hospital IT budgets prioritize revenue-cycle features over safety infrastructure, and CMS has not tied UDI recording to reimbursement.