| The term RFID (radio frequency identification) | | | | Patient tracking: Hospitals are incresingly looking |
| describes a wireless identification technology that uses | | | | towards being able to track patients in realtime. RFID |
| radio waves to communicate data. Data is encoded in | | | | tags are attached to ID bracelets of all patients , or |
| a chip, which is integrated with an antenna and | | | | just patients requiring special attention, so their location |
| packaged into a finished "tag." RFID tags may be | | | | can be tracked continuously. Physicians can also use |
| passive (requiring close proximity to a reader, and | | | | the RFID system to easily locate patients, increasing |
| usually applied to track supplies), or active, in which the | | | | their productivity on rounds. |
| RFID tag contains a small battery to allow continuous | | | | Asset tracking: Hospitals are finding it easier to |
| monitoring (used mostly to track equipment). | | | | manage highly mobile medical equipment such as IV |
| For healthcare organizations, RFID is the next inevitable | | | | pumps and wheel chairs. RFID tags are used to |
| step towards the new generation healthcare services | | | | transmit location data to a workstation which displays |
| operations and it is set to provide new efficiencies, | | | | the data on a floor plan of the Hospital.Trained Nurses |
| improved services, enhanced healthcare workflow and | | | | use the software to locate the items during their daily |
| increased patient care for organizations seeking | | | | routines. This ensure that the Hospital reduces its |
| competitive advantage. Tracking elderly and | | | | inventory and labor costs. |
| disoriented patients in long term care cases, tracking | | | | Meds management: An RFID-enabled meds |
| mothers and their babies in maternity wards, ensuring | | | | management solution allows a clinician to scan a |
| the right procedure is being performed on the right | | | | patient's wristband to validate identification and review |
| person at the right time in surgical wards, a "smart" | | | | current orders from a physician. Likewise, tagged |
| patient wristband that when scanned by RFID reveals | | | | medications can be scanned to verify that patient, |
| patient name, date of birth, admitting orders, insurance | | | | medication, dose and timing are consistent and |
| information, surgical site, allergic reactions, medication | | | | accurate. |
| requirements, and blood type are some of the | | | | Clinical supplies management: The use of RFID in |
| innovative uses of RFID in the patient sphere. Among | | | | health care provides a simple, low-cost solution that |
| those benefiting are the many small to mid-size | | | | allows tracking of supplies from the factory to storage |
| providers and clinics looking for an edge -- from | | | | shelves.This ensures that hospitals and clinics achieve |
| improved operational efficiency to enhanced patient | | | | improvements in availability of supplies, less duplication |
| safety. | | | | and loss of equipment, and savings in inventory costs. |
| Some of the recent RFID solutions, gaining importance | | | | To conclude, |
| in the Healthcare space are : | | | | Hospitals can regain control and significantly reduce |
| Patient safety at point-of-care: With numerous cases | | | | costs by using RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) |
| of wrong-patient and wrong-procedure surgeries | | | | technology to track clinical staff, patients, supplies, |
| ocurring, the use of an RFID tag attached to a patient, | | | | medication and equipment. RFID technology and |
| allows a physician to verify the correct patient, | | | | location systems improve staff efficiency, reduce theft |
| procedure and site -- prior to the start of any invasive | | | | and loss of equipment, and can provide a secure |
| procedure.A handheld device can be used to confirm | | | | system for controlling medications and blood products. |
| information(like the patient's Chart and ID wrist | | | | A study released by Chicago-based Fast Track |
| band)stored on the tag. RFID tags containing full patient | | | | Technologies Ltd. predicts the health care market for |
| histories are used to provide emergency workers with | | | | radio frequency identification technology will soar to |
| a potentially life-saving "head start" in making treatment | | | | $8.8 billion by 2010. |
| decisions. | | | | |