Providing Healthcare Services Using Radio Frequency Identification Technology - Assignment Example

Providing Health Care services using RFID technology Abstract When one looks at the changes that have occurred in the technology through the past few years, the development of the RFID stands out. It is believed by many that the use of RFID will only increase by almost a factor of twenty by the end of the 2015. Currently the technology is used mainly for identification purposes, but in the future it is expected with the development of the technology that the application of RFID can be extended to other areas such as measurement and the transmission of data in the healthcare sector. This would be highly effective in the healthcare system as it would allow for greater and more flexible method of data transfer and analysis leading to better effectiveness of the healthcare system. Introduction The sector of healthcare is undergoing constant change. There is felt a continuous need to ensure that the method adopted for patient security, nursing techniques, quality of services provided needs to be improved and made more efficient. One industry that has helped ensure that this is achieved is that of IT. IT has deployed new systems for patient security, such as the bar code system, electronization of the recording system, and others. Also it has been observed that the use of IT has helped improve the quality of nursing, which in turn has helped reduce the overall expenses of healthcare. One of the most significant parts of healthcare is identification, where different objects, from patients, devices used, materials utilised to equipment and medicines needs to be identified. This is significant as misidentification of patients or medicine can lead to error which can be fatal. This is the main significance of adopting the system of RFID in healthcare. In the following paper there shall be conducted a detailed research on the role of this technology in the healthcare system, where the focus will be on its usage and its long term effect on the functioning of the healthcare system in the country of UK. The paper shall also look into the need for the RFID in the system of healthcare while focusing on the positives as well as the negatives of the technology, so as to ensure that a holistic discussion is established. Current Healthcare Services The health care system that is in place in the country is one which is still mainly based in the technology that has been used in the past, and the transition has not been completed in relation to the usage of the RFID technology. It has been observed that the current health care system is one which is still functioning on the manual management of the patients and the inventory and the upgrading of the entire process has still not been implemented. The current health service in the country has been able to adopt only a part of the technology in its everyday usage, where it has been observed that almost of the hospitals are still based on human management and tracking of the data and the inventory (RFID in healthcare, Online). There is a need for greater implementation of the RFID in the management of the patients and materials in the healthcare system today, as there have been cases where a number of patients have been affected due to the usage of infected equipment in the hospitals by the staff. Also, the amount of data that has to be processed by the system is only increasing with time, leading to a greater drain on the overall resources of the healthcare system (RFID in healthcare, Online). Thus, the implementation of the RFID system is a much required need for the healthcare system to ensure that such needs can be met in an economic and effective manner in the long run. For example, many patients in England were exposed to the human version of the mad cow disease as a result of the use of the infected equipment in the hospitals (RFID in healthcare, Online). If the usage of the RFID system was in place, such instances can be avoided, thus allowing for greater implementation of functional effectiveness to the system of healthcare in the country. RFID in Healthcare Radio Frequency Identification is a technology that has been developed to ensure that the process of tracking and identification of various objects can be carried out in an effective manner through the use of radio waves. It is a technology that has gained a lot of popularity in the new millennium, where a number of managerial teams under various sectors are utilising it to ensure that the process of inventory is carried out in an effective manner (Lahtela 2009). It uses the radio waves to send out and receive signals from a receiver to the electronic tags that are attached to the various equipment and objects so as to ensure that the communication channels are established, and an effective and economic method of data collection (K. Finkenzeller, 2006). Every object is given its own identification tag and this is used to ensure that the tracking is carried out in an effective manner. It the sector of health care it can be used to track down equipment, keep track of patients and babies and can be put to other such usage in the healthcare system. When looking at the method through which the RFID tracks down inventory and equipment, much literature has been developed. According to Aleksandrowicz, M. Walter, S. Leonhardt (2007) it has been suggested by logistics literature that RFID technology increases the agility of supply chain systems and gives companies a competitive advantage, reducing the cost of management. RFID tags are analogues to barcodes that wirelessly transmit their serial number to in-store scanning machines (Aleksandrowicz, M. Walter, S. Leonhardt, 2007). This automatic self identification process is a great improvement over traditional bar codes, which would typically require employees or physically scan each item. RFID chips add a nominal cost to each item but enable supply chain information systems to easily scan items throughout the supply chain, potentially enabling managers to visualize exactly how much inventory exists in the supply chain, and therefore know much more inventory is to be purchased or produced. The discussion on the RFID debate (2003) put forward the claim that the technology can potentially enable supply chain managers to overcome problems caused by imperfect or insufficient information inherent in current inventory management systems. Need for RFID in Healthcare When looking into the various methods through which the technology of RFID can be utilized in the healthcare sector, one chief usage that has been recognized and established is the management of assets in the healthcare sector. The technology is utilized to ensure that the various equipment and drugs that are used can be tracked through the system, where the detailed information of each can be tracked and kept in check. It has been observed that the role of tampering and adulteration of drugs is a growing problem in the healthcare sector, where it usually has a negative effect on the overall healthcare sector (RFID in healthcare, Online). Through the use of the RFID system, one can keep track of the various assets of the sector so as to ensure that there is no adulteration of the drugs, and no tampering is carried out on the various equipment that are utilised, leading to greater asset management and effective management of the inventory. Also it has been observed that there has to be kept a track of the sterilization of the equipment once it has been used, and this can be carried out in an effective manner through the system of RFID where the equipment can be tagged and tracked through its progress of sterilization to ensure that the safety of the healthcare can be established (Datamonitor 2004). The system of the RFID is also utilised in the system of healthcare to ensure that the need of tracking of patients is carried out in an economic and effective manner. The process of RFID helps in the collection of data of various patients and it helps in the circulation of the data as and when required by the system, to ensure that the overall effectiveness of the care is realised (Frost & Sullivan 2003). Also in the system of healthcare it has been observed that the overall safety of the patients can be ensured only through the tracking and the identification of the patients in the hospitals. It helps keep a track of the information as well as the actual tracking of the patient. Also in the case of babies, it was observed that a number of babies were mixed up in the past due to irregular and ineffective management. It is only with the use of the RFID that one can ensure that each baby is tagged and the information is recorded in accordance to the tag so that each child is cared for in an effective manner where the information for each child is recorded and accessed when required (Ham, I. H 2005). It has been realised that the overall need of the suppliers to keep track of the inventory is important to ensure that the effectiveness of the inventory system is realised. Also the manufacturers and the distributors need greater amount of visibility into the distribution sector (RFID in healthcare, Online). This can be carried out in an effective manner where the needs of the manufacturers can be met through the system of RFID tracking of the inventory in the distribution system (Harrop, P. and R. Das 2005). Finally it has to be realised that the overall cost effectiveness of the system is high and it has helped reduce the cost of the healthcare system. The cost of the tags has reduced considerably, and the overall cost of the system is easily adjusted when one looks at the managerial cost reduction that RFID helps achieving (H. A. Nahas and J. S. Deogun 2007). The amount of data that is processed is very high, and it is managed in an effective manner due to the systematic analysis and processing of the data through RFID, which helps in the cutting the overall cost of the managerial department of healthcare. Thus the entire process is more efficient which helps in greater visibility of the inventory as well as ensure that the cost effectiveness is maintained (RFID in healthcare, Online). Analysis of usage of RFID in Healthcare Now that the role and the working of the RFID technology has been established, the various strengths and weaknesses of the system have to be realised so as to ensure that the overall understanding of its role in healthcare can be realised in a holistic manner. Barriers Lack of knowledge The first and the most important barrier that has to be overcome is to ensure that there is established a more holistic knowledge of the system and it’s working in the healthcare sector. It h been observed, that many are not aware of how the data is collected in this system, and how the various equipment and drugs can be tracked down. There is today felt a need to ensure that the management as well as the various employees of the healthcare system are trained in this technology so that they can utilise it in the routine working of the system, and not rely on the traditional modes of data collection (Jee, K. Y., M. K. Kim, J. H. Park, D.S. Oh and W.S. Jeong 2005). Technology still developing While RFID-enabled supply chain or part of it can prove beneficial, the cost of tags and scanners remains prohibitive. This leads to greater problems of integration and effective usage, thus defeating the purpose of effective management and better working of the entire process of data collection and effective improvement of healthcare. The technology is evolving and so are standards and systems supporting it. As the technology gains acceptance, adopters will face the daunting task of gathering and managing massive amounts of data. This is another challenge that needs to be overcome by the system to ensure that the data is processed and can be accessed as and when needed for the facilitation of better care being rendered to the patients. Also cost reduction strategies included reduction of suppliers and use of supply NET (intranet and EDI among the suppliers).But unlike barcodes, there is no global public body that governs the frequencies used for RFID. This can be a hindrance to its EDI (Electronic Data Interchange)procedure(as different rules will be there for different areas suppliers). Privacy issues Finally it has to be realized that the issues of privacy have also become an important concern in the healthcare system with regards to the use of RFID technology. Over the past century the use o RFID has increased, and with it the collection of data through the technology has also improved. This has led to the development of certain issues. One of the main issues is that with the collection of larger amount of information, the process of assimilation and access of data has become more complicated, and it has become more difficult for the affected persons to understand and overlook all these applications and the data they collect. Also it is important that one is able to access the information while maintaining the privacy needs of the patients. . Purpose oriented applications with privacy friendly defaults that keep the collected data at an absolute minimum have to be the ambition of RFID information system design (Liard, M. J. 2004). Standardised interfaces for data protection authorities need to be developed to help automating the control of compliance with data protection legislation and data protection guidelines. Benefits Greater storage of data The healthcare supply chain with additional information that resulted from the usage of the technology was able to significantly lower the average of inventory stock out costs as well lower average inventory holding costs than its competitors with traditional barcode systems and limited inventory information (Practel 2004). Better inventory management The supply chain enabled with the RFID technology was also able to negate the amplification of order information distortion, a phenomenon typical of the bull whip effect. Finally by ensuring the application of an RFID enabled supply chain system that tracked and displayed inventory information to member supply chain tiers, the health care system has been able to have lower mean inventory costs than traditional supply chain systems (Song, S, 2003). Cost effective The need or cost cutting is also upheld by the system of RFID, which helps ensure that the entire process is made more economic. Through the tracking of the equipment, it helps ensure that there is no theft carried out of the valuable equipment that is used in the healthcare system leading to greater value to the cost of healthcare. Also the fact that such high level of data is easily comprehended and analyzed helps in the cost reduction of the process. Easier Management Hospitals want to improve the patient workflow and the operational process so as to save costs and enhance patient satisfaction. With automatic data capturing and storage capability of RFID, manual processes which are typically employed to record data can be automated. RFID has the potential to significantly improve operations by actively monitoring asset and patient flow through the hospital. Conclusion In conclusion it can be stated that the overall role of the technology of RFID in the healthcare system is very high, where it has helped in the establishment of a system of communication and management within the system which is not only cost effective but also more efficient in the working. It facilitates better management, while also ensuring that the increasing needs and demands on the healthcare system are met. Many scholars believe that the overall role of the RFID has only increased with time, and many of the scientists believe that its usage will only become more widespread. In fact based on the discussion that has been conducted it can be established that in the future the role of the RFID will only increase in the future and it will become more integrated into the medical system of the nation. Reference Lahtela 2009, "A short overview of the RFID technology in healthcare," in 4th International Conference on Systems and Networks Communications, 2009, pp. 165-169. K. Finkenzeller, 2006, RFID Handbuch, 4th ed. Muenchen, Germany: Hanser Verlag, 2006. Aleksandrowicz, M. Walter, S. Leonhardt 2007, Wireless ECG Measurement System with Capacitive Coupling, Berlin / New York, Germany: Biomedizinische Technik, 2007. Datamonitor 2004, "RFID in healthcare," Market report, October 2004. Frost & Sullivan 2003, "World RFID-based application markets," Market report, 2003. Ham, I. H 2005.; "Application model of RFID in medical field," in Proc.Seminar for Reinvigoration of RFID/USN, Korea Association of RFID/USN, 2005. Harrop, P. and R. Das 2005, "RFID forecasts, player and opportunities 2005 to 2015," Market report, IDTechEx, Cambridge, UK, 2005. H. A. Nahas and J. S. Deogun 2007, "Radio frequency identification applications in smart hospitals," in Proceedings of the 20th IEEE International Symposium on Computer-Based Medical Systems, 2007, pp. 337-342. Jee, K. Y., M. K. Kim, J. H. Park, D.S. Oh and W.S. Jeong 2005, "Qualitative analysis report for creating u-Health market opportunity," Planning report, ETRI, 2005. Liard, M. J. 2004; "RFID middleware solutions: Global market opportunity," Market report, Venture Development Corporation, August 2004. Practel 2004, "RFID: New horizons for accountable society," Market report, 2004. Song, S, 2003; "The raise of RFID as core technology of logistics innovation," Logistics Magazine, September 2003. RFID in healthcare, Online, accessed on April 21, 2011 at http://www.ups-scs.com/solutions/white_papers/wp_RFID_in_healthcare.pdf Read More