RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) technology is not new. It has existed since the 1980s. What is new is the number of different uses that have been given to it, especially due to the reduction in the cost of its implementation over the years.
This is what has been happening in the hospital area. Some cases of implantation of this technology in North American hospitals showed a potential for reducing equipment and eliminating unproductive times for the team of nurses and employees in the order of millions of dollars. Nowadays, there are American hospitals using tags even on inflatable mattresses.
In Brazil, the first news of RFID implementation in this segment dates back to 2010. One of the most famous cases is the Albert Einstein Hospital, which was the first in South America to have an RFID solution for locating medical equipment and monitoring the temperature of refrigerators. The project allowed for a reduction in the time to search for items and a reduction in losses.
The most recent news about the application of this technology in the hospital sector has shown its use in patients, through RFID wristbands, with the objective of tracking the location of patients, as well as managing and storing information such as identity, medical conditions and bed releases.
Research carried out by ILOS in 2016 shows how Brazilian hospitals are doing in terms of RFID usage. It is noticed that in Brazil the use of RFID technology is not very widespread, and there is still a large field for expansion. In total, 30% of the hospitals already have RFID for inventory control, 19% do not have it but intend to implement it, and 52% do not have it and do not intend to implement it.
Figure 1 – % of hospitals that have implemented RFID technology for inventory control
Source: ILOS 2016 survey carried out with 11 Hospital Networks and 21 Independent Hospitals
Hospitals have not been pioneers in innovation in management and logistics. On the contrary, they are still far behind most industries and services. But the tools are there, as are the opportunities for improvement.
References:
Implementation of Radio-Frequency Identification in Hospitals, The University of Tennessee
http://bakercenter.utk.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Implementation-of-RFID-in-Hospitals.pdf
NEC: RFID for Albert Einstein
http://www.baguete.com.br/noticias/telecom/25/06/2010/nec-rfid-para-albert-einstein
Hospital monitors patients in real time
http://brasil.rfidjournal.com/noticias/vision?14886
How to use RFID Wristband in Hospital
http://www.asiarfid.com/rfid-news-bo/how-to-use-rfid-wristband-in-hospital-pt.html
Maria Fernanda Hijjar
https://ilos.com.brExecutive Partner of ILOS, holds a master's degree and a degree in Production Engineering from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). With more than 10 years of experience in the field of Logistics and Supply Chain, working on several projects, management and participation in research associated with the subject. She has more than 20 articles in newspapers, magazines, periodicals and congress annals, being co-author of several titles in the COPPEAD Collection by Atlas publishing house and in the Panorama Logístico Collection ILOS and CEL / COPPEAD.
