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14 Uses of RFID in Health-Care |
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Wednesday, 31 August 2011 14:22 |
- Mechanical delivery of medication to those who need it. An automated robot has already been programmed to deliver medication, with RFID embedded in the label, to the test subject, wearing an RFID equipped wristband or nametag. Could this robot start putting pharmacists out of jobs? Maybe, but at this point the cost and hardware are not quite there yet. Check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FwpgAgJG4c for more information.
- Anti-wandering devices. Those of us who have seen loved ones go through some sort of dementia or Alzheimer’s know how difficult taking care of them is. However, with RFID technology, care-takers can ensure loved-ones do not wander to unsafe places. With a RFID wristband on the patient and readers covering strategic doorways, caretakers can be notified immediately when a patient is going somewhere they are not supposed to be. Research “Vuance” for more information.
- Disallowing drug tampering. Drugs are constantly the victim of counterfeiting and tampering. They are also constantly being recalled or expiring before they get used. However, oftentimes these tampered, expired, or even fake drugs make it into the hands of consumers today. With RFID technology, the entire supply chain of the drug industry can be monitored, ensuring they are not replaced or tampered with along the way. Checks can also be run so that expired or recalled drugs never reach the hands of consumers. All this made possible through RFID technology implemented through all phases of the supply chain.
- Sperm and ova identification. While the act of misidentifying sperm or ova specimen does not happen regularly, it is very embarrassing and costly when it does. IVF clinics are looking into sperm and ova identification through RFID to ensure that such mistakes do not occur in the years to come.
- Reading medication instructions for the visually impaired. The Department of Veteran Affairs is already looking into this topic. A talking prescription reader would read the RFID technology embedded in the drugs label. It could then audibly let the patient know of the: prescription name, instructions, warnings, and dosage amount. If this reader was adaptable, it could be implemented in many other ways for the visually impaired.
- Asset Management. Stents, tissue samples, and many other operating room assets are extremely valuable. These products can expire, be lost, wasted, or used inefficiently. Asset management systems can save hospitals bundles by having products scanned in, out, and as they are used in medical procedures. This lowers inventory costs, going as far as suggesting optimal inventory levels. Check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mmB36cKTNI for more information.
- Tumor removal. Tumor removal is an infection prone process, often involving the surgeon following a wire (placed earlier by a different doctor) to the location of the tumor. However, an RFID dot, the size of a grain of rice, can be implanted in the tumor as much as a week in advance of the surgery. The surgeon can then be guided to the tumor by the RFID dot inside the tumor itself! This decreases many infection producing processes including the open wire etc.
- Security of patient records. New HIPAA laws specify that only certain hospital staff members are allowed access to patient records. RFID technology can scramble the records, and cause them to be unreadable to anyone except the specified people. The records are also electronic and cannot be lost or misplaced, unlike traditional records which are often merely hung at the end of a patient’s bed.
- Real Time Location System (RTLS) implementation. RFID enabled nametags can keep constant track of employees throughout the hospital using either zonal technology or the WiFi system of the hospital itself. While this initially seems marginally useless, the implementation of a RTLS with other RFID technology can create myriads of possibilities. For instance, a hand-wash monitoring system, combined with a RTLS system can effectively show who is washing their hands, as well as where and when. This can be used to monitor the cleanliness of hospital staff and effectively decrease infection caused by preventable means. Check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcKugx7vxVc to learn more about this example.
- Tracking of ovulation cycles. You cannot truly understand the importance or need of such a system until you are trying to have a baby. Ovulation cycles have always been an art as much as a science. However, through a system known as DuoFertility, RFID technology is used to measure a woman’s constant temperature over a given period of time. This information, as well as important information input by the user, can be used together to discover the optimal ovulation periods.
- Prevention of kidnapping. Believe it or not, the kidnapping of babies from hospitals is not as uncommon as you may believe. However, with the help of RFID technology implemented into baby bracelets (which are already put on infants once born), sensors over doorways can trigger an alarm when babies go somewhere they are not supposed to go. This can lead to the saving of babies before kidnappers can get anywhere with them. These systems have already saved infants from being abducted from hospitals.
- Measurement of exercise. Have you ever lied to the doctor when asked how active you were in the last month? Or to a physical therapist when asked if you did your weekly exercises? You might not be able to for much longer. Scientists are developing sensors that are strategically placed to monitor limb movement and stress. This knowledge combined with blood pressure, heart rate, and other key indicators can give a much greater understanding of a patient’s overall health.
- Pharmaceutical temperatures. The FDA requires that pharmaceutical companies guarantee the tracking and acceptable temperatures of drugs throughout the supply chain. Certain drugs can become useless after being exposed to either too high or too low of temperatures. Consider the every-day Epi-Pen. It becomes useless if temperatures exceed certain levels. RFID can ensure that temperatures stay within the safe zone. So when that bee-sting hits, relief can be effectively administered.
- Patient specific settings. Certain cancer centers are already using RFID technology to store the patient’s favorite colors, sounds, and vacation locations. This information is then automatically implemented into the room to make long medical sessions more bearable and friendly. In addition, the technology can be used for such simple things as bringing up a patient’s information when they walk through the door.
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