RFID for Healthcare Asset Management

One of the major benefits of RFID technology is its use in healthcare asset management. Hospitals greatly benefit from this functionality as they need to manage a massive amount of assets, which is not possible to do manually. Below are the different ways in which RFID is used for healthcare asset management. Medicine asset tracking All medical tools including reusable and disposable, and durable assets such as beds and medical equipment are equipped with RFID tags. This helps monitor their availability so that hospitals don’t run out of essential supplies, especially when they are much needed. Medical staff can track the locations of these assets using a web or mobile application. Medical inventory management Managing the inventory is a crucial aspect of successful functioning of a hospital. RFID technology enables inventory tracking of medication, especially to identify shortages and expiration in a timely manner. RFID solutions for medical inventory management also helps prevent theft and ensure the intended use of the medication. The latter is possible because the instructions on usage of different medicines are stored in the tracking system. Medical equipment & sterilization Safe sterilization of surgical tools and medical supplies are critical in a hospital setting. Patient care and hospital reputation can be impacted due to poor management of the sterilization of medical tools and supplies. Surgical tools that are not properly sterilized could contain bacteria that could put a patient’s health at risk. RFID technology enables tracking the tools that are not cleaned and disinfected after a surgery. This ensures that no tools are left without being properly sterilized. Monitor temperature for supply storage RFID technology has also proven to be beneficial in monitoring temperature for supply storages in hospitals. This technology utilizes sensors to monitor humidity and temperature levels in refrigerators that store medicines, vaccines, and food. Apart from this, RFID solutions also help manage humidity and temperature levels at operating rooms in hospitals. RFID tags read the temperatures and send this information over the wireless network to the cloud-based system. The system has been configured to send alerts in case temperature and humidity goes above or below the defined limits. Patient and medical records Hospitals make patients wear wristbands with RFID tacks that allow them to keep track of the patient’s locations and movements. It is especially useful for patients suffering from memory issues as it prevents them from wandering off along hospital corridors and stairs. RFID solutions ensure quality patient care in hospitals. It also stores the patient’s personal information and medical records so that the patient gets proper treatment and care while in hospital. Medical staff tracking Medical staff also wear wristbands with RFID tags, similar to patients. It helps track their location, movements, and interactions. RFID solutions help medical supervisors keep track of medical staff and find which doctors and nurses are available in case of emergencies. It also helps identify bottlenecks in the hospital workflow and reduce overwork. RFID technology helps ensure high-quality patient care and efficient hospital workflow through medical staff tracking. Hospital visitors tracking RFID solutions help track the location and movements of visitors coming into the hospital. It prevents them from unauthorized access to high-security zones within the hospital, including surgery rooms and inventories.