Improving patient safety
RFID solutions for hospitals for tracking scrubs, linen management, and garments in healthcare and hospitals uses RFID tag – (Radio Frequency Identification) is an established and widely used technology that can be used in different areas and one of them is healthcare. It can address many of the pain points like inventory optimization, asset tracking perishable medicines monitoring, etc. faced in this sector. Use cases that can make use of RFID technology for a better output are listed below.
Tracking Scrubs, Linen management in operation theatre using RFID
In healthcare, as part of the lifecycle of surgical scrubs and linen management, Tracking scrubs, linens, and garments in ophthalmology clinics & orthopedic specialty hospitals with uses RFID tags are used, cleaned and returned for further usage. Although the costs of these items aren’t typically a consideration when it comes to seeking improved management, the administration time and effort of managing the items are costly. RFID tags can be attached to scrubs and linens to improve traceability and optimize the management of the items.
Benefits of using RFID in hospital linen and laundry management
- Improved inventory management: RFID technology enables real-time tracking of hospital linen and laundry, providing an accurate view of inventory levels and reducing the risk of stockouts.
- Increased efficiency: RFID technology allows for automatic tracking of hospital linen and laundry, eliminating the need for manual tracking and reducing the risk of errors.
- Cost savings: By providing a more accurate view of inventory levels and reducing the risk of stockouts, RFID technology can help hospitals reduce the amount of linen and laundry they need to purchase.
- Enhanced patient safety: RFID technology can help hospitals track the movement of hospital linen and laundry, ensuring that contaminated items are properly handled and preventing the spread of infection.
Overall, RFID technology can provide significant benefits for hospitals looking to improve their linen and laundry management processes, helping them to save time, reduce costs, and improve patient safety.
RFID tags that are laundry safe are attached to scrubs and linens. Options typically include being able to heat seal, stitch or embed the RFID tag. As the items leave and enter a facility, RFID handhelds and read points can capture the movement or transfer of items.
Tracking Medical Sets with RFID asset tracking in hospitals
In hospitals, tracing medical sets like surgical kits and accessories throughout their lifecycle is critical from an operational perspective. The ability to quickly locate these items comes in handy when an emergency situation arises. Nurses and doctors increase their productivity by enabling proper medical set records.
What is asset tracking in hospitals? RFID technology provides automation in the management of workflows for medical sets. These typically include receiving, sterilization/cleaning, inspection, auditing, replenishment, and shipping. Autoclave tolerant RFID tags are attached to surgical sets and other medical kits. These RFID tags are designed to withstand the autoclave process that surgical sets and cases typically go through for sterilization and cleaning. By establishing RFID fixed readers in workstations, portals, and read points, valuable information on these sets can be gained as they pass through each process.
For asset tracking in hospitals, knowing where their assets are is essential for business operations. High-value assets like IV pumps, heart monitors, personal protective equipment (PPE), syringe pumps, oxygen cylinders, etc. need to be located instantly when an emergency situation occurs. Having visibility of the location of these assets can simplify the healthcare workflow and save a lot of time. Beyond the tracking, a solidified management of assets can be achieved including asset repair/ maintenance and asset utilization.
RFID tags are attached to assets. Depending on the type of asset, an RFID label, metal tag, or specialty RFID tag may be used. Depending on visibility requirements, RFID read zones can be created at strategic locations within the hospital to pick up asset information as they move. Fixed readers kept at doors can give insights into utilization by recording entry/exit times. Even low-value assets like blood bags, wheelchairs, stretchers, beds, etc. can also be tracked efficiently using RFID technology.
Using passive RFID solutions in the healthcare industry, foolproof tracking solutions will help reduce the theft of medical equipment and surgical instruments, apart from providing real-time location systems to improve patient care and patient safety.
RFID tags can be used to track inventory levels of medical supplies and medications, ensuring that hospitals have adequate stock on hand and reducing the risk of stockouts. This can improve patient care by ensuring that necessary supplies are available when needed.
RFID tags can be used to track the movement of patients within hospitals, ensuring that they are in the correct location for appointments, tests, and procedures. This can help improve patient flow and reduce wait times.
RFID technology can be used to track the movement and storage of blood products, ensuring that they are properly stored and transported and reducing the risk of errors or contamination.
As mentioned earlier, RFID tags can be used to track hospital linen and laundry, ensuring that they are properly cleaned and sanitized, and reducing the risk of infection transmission.
Overall, RFID technology can help hospitals improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance patient safety by providing real-time visibility into the movement and status of assets, inventory, patients, and medical supplies.
Hospital Laboratory Equipment Tracking healthcare RFID solutions
Having an in-depth knowledge of the location of equipment is essential to lab operations. Bottles, test tubes, funnels, and other lab equipment are easily prone to missing and theft. RFID technology can be used to quickly check out and check in equipment, avoid theft, and accurately scan items allowing lab personnel to focus on their core responsibilities. Each lab equipment can be labeled using RFID tags and readers kept near the laboratory door can easily collect data as well as check-in and check-out times. Handheld RFID readers can be used to quickly, efficiently, and accurately conduct cycle counts and audits.
Medical records document management in hospitals
In hospitals, there will be records of patients, staff, assets, etc. in hard copy, and managing these huge files is very difficult. Finding the right file amid large collections of files is a very time-consuming task. Proper management of these files reduces time consumption and increases productivity. Each file can be tagged using RFID tags and readers (handheld, fixed) collect data from the tags easily. It will help in locating the right document and prevent missing and manipulating it effectively.
IT hospital Asset Management & RFID asset tracking in hospitals
In hospitals, a wide variety of IT Assets are used by their employees to improve their day-to-day productivity. Whether this is laptops, computers, and tablets, it is essential to have accountability for each asset. Also, there will be server rooms that will need proper temperature control. RFID can be used to maintain IT assets and ideal temperatures inside server rooms.
RFID tags and labels are attached to IT Assets. Depending on asset type (moving or non-moving) we can choose handheld or fixed readers to track them. Temperature sensors can be installed in the server rooms to monitor environmental conditions and if any overheating is identified an alert will be sent to the concerned staff. Enhance patient safety with healthcare asset tracking IOT solutions.
RFID Asset tracking in hospitals
Call us to know how scrub and linen tracking in multi location clinics and speciality hospitals can prevent theft of medical equipment, abuse of medical assets in hospitals. Improving productivity related to the front office, operation theatre, laboratory, pharmacy, and outpatient departments can help improve staff productivity and enhance the patient experience for hospitals in Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa.