RFID Applications in E-Healthcare - E-Healthcare Systems and Wireless Communications - page 91

ware, residing in the Geisigner's backend server.
RFID tags are placed on drug containers and the
staff reads the data stored in these tags through
handheld readers, thereby linking the tag's unique
ID with the pharmaceutical data. When a medica-
tion request is made, a hospital employee picks
items out of cabinets and places them in drawers
assigned for each patient care unit, in which the
last drawer is dedicated to RFID tagged items,
with an RFID reader located directly under that
drawer. The reader then captures each ID number
and links that medication with specific robot, along
with the unit to which it is destined. The hospital
employee first needs to identify oneself with the
system by entering password or thumbprint. The
worker then gives the items to the robot, thus
linking that individual with that order. The robot
then carries the items to the receiving units, and
upon arrival at a unit, it transmits a notification
of its location to the software via Wi-Fi and the
system displays an alert on that particular unit's
computer monitor indicating the arrival of the
robot; an employee then retrieves the drugs from
the drawer after identifying him/her with the

software. As a staff member removes the items
from the drawer, the reader captures that item's
unique ID number and updates the information
in software indicating that the item has been re-
ceived and also noting who received it. Since the
installation of RFID system, the hospital reports
that it is 40 - 50 percent more cost-effective than
human labor (Swedberg, 2010).
The potential benefits of RFID in healthcare,
as seen in Figure 5, are numerous - some dis-
covered while some remain unfolded as of now.
The three main areas that benefit from the RFID
technology in healthcare are asset management,
patient care and inventory management. Asset
management is critical in pervasive healthcare
where it is necessary to be able to identify and track
items and patients. Inventory management is also
needed as it can considerably reduce out-of-stock
situations, billing errors, misplaced articles, theft
and shrinkage. Patient care, above all, is the sole
reason why healthcare exists and organizations
are making use of the best technologies to provide
best service and care to the patients.

Figure 5. Benefits of adopting RFID in Healthcare