[medinformatics] RFID Gaining Ground in Healthcare Space

[Healthcare Informatics News]

RFID is emerging as a fully automated solution for information delivery at the bedside.*In
the last decade, the health care industry has made strides in adopting technologies to improve patient safety and
hospital workflow. One example is barcode technology, but barcode technology has not yet fulfilled its promise. From
Advance for Health Information Executives:


While it offers distinct advantages over traditional identification methods, it is still susceptible to human
error, because it relies on multiple manual steps performed by the caregiver. Moreover, because it requires the user to
physically scan a label, the barcode approach allows for caregivers to bypass the scan and defer entering the
information, which obviates the benefits of the technology. Finally, the process steps that a barcode model adds tend
to complicate hospital procedures, often making it more difficult for health care professionals to concentrate on
providing quality care.

As more eyes become fixed on the future of the health care industry, another technology has emerged that more
readily suits existing hospital workflow and is less invasive to both caregivers and their patients. Radio frequency
identification, or RFID, enables a fully automated solution for information delivery at the patient bedside, greatly
reducing labor and the potential for manual error.

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