RFID Patient Tracking - Patient Safety

The RFID technology had been around for sometime in the past, designed more or less to replace the limited bar codes used to ID items. This had quickly developed to what it is these days – a very reliable tracking device that is now in use in many industries. One of the more successful iterations is the RFID patient tracking.

The task of tracking down patients using the RFID technology is quite fitting in the medical industry. Business had been employing the technology in keeping track of transported merchandise and cargoes.

Function 

Basically, the main function is keeping track the whereabouts of ambulant patients within the facility grounds buildings and grounds. Once found, they can be safely returned to their beds and rooms.

An equally important side function of the systems is the recording, reading and analysis of the patient’s data (medical history, address, insurance, current treatments, etc.) as written. This function is one big factor in the treatment of the patients.

Benefits

With the use of the device, the continuous tracking of a patient inside a hospital is important both for management and the patient. (Is the patient suffering from any mental disability? Is he endangering himself or the others?)

For practical purposes, the tracking informs the hospital authorities of the patient’s current needs. (Does he need his treatment now? Is he in restricted areas?)

Added benefits

With the tracking devices on the patient, the hospital authorities are notified immediately on his whereabouts. They can then facilitate triage processes which restricts access to high-risk places in the medical facility campus.

These highly-restricted areas are sometime restrictive even to legitimate hospital personnel for a variety of reasons. The emergencies the hospital is always preparing for are medical emergencies, epidemics, terrorist threats, and other dangerous situations where people are in places they are not supposed to be.

Principal use

In technical terms, the RFID tracking is actually to maximize the safety, security and privacy of the patient at all times. One reason is that the patient’s vital biometrics (medical history, personal information, current medical status, etc.) are recorded and embedded in his RFID.

The data stored on the patient’s bracelet is stored for use in his entire business with the hospital. This would include medical treatments, payments, medical history, present medical status, etc.), all within the time of his confinement and treatment period.

Sample process

An example would be a heart attack victim in an ambulance. His medical statistics would all be written while in transit to the hospital. Once read by the doctors, the current condition and the patient’s medical history can guide doctors on the right procedure to be used. 

When the patient is taken in, he is given and assigned to an RFID bracelet tag. The patient’s personal information is written on the tag, including his present condition and his entire medical history. Included too are other pertinent data (insurance, payments, allergies, etc.)

Upon entrance in the hospital premises, RFID tag readers and field generators interrogate his tag to deliver the important data needed by the waiting team of physicians in the ER.

One important aspect of the RFID patient tracking Australia is the speed to the treatment of the patient’s condition.