Best Practice for Selecting RFID Tracking Systems Detailed
A forthcoming article in the Journal of Clinical Engineering details a best practice model for choosing a radiofrequency identification (RFID) systems within healthcare facilities.
The study author notes that extensive information is available from many of the companies that develop and manufacture RFID systems. While the basic elements of each system may be similar, the more advanced components are generally quite distinct. Most companies offer a full compendium of staff members that support implementation strategies after acquisition.
However, those professionals do not offer an unbiased perspective to help teams identify and select the system most suitable for their facility. And with the complex differences between the systems, a complete evaluation is warranted. This sort of evaluation system is distinct from other systems employed in healthcare facilities, which are generally specific to a distinct specialty or clinical category.
The author delineates a step by step system which incorporates best practice models. The model was developed through assessments of 22 facilities that had yet to implement tracking systems and 24 additional facilities which already had tracking in place. This information provides a framework for facilities as they evaluate options for implementation of a tracking system for capital equipement.
These systems do offer hospitals and other healthcare facilities means to track valuable equipment. One study indicates that facilities lose, on average, ten percent of their capital equipment inventory on an annual basis. With this data in mind, such systems are critical to limit losses.
Other incentives for implementation of such systems are improvements to efficiency. Tracking systems can both streamline staff movement and activities, as well as monitor such. Tracking can also monitor the movement of pharmaceuticals within a hospital, from receiving to the central pharmacy to distribution to patients.
October 3, 2007 Related topics: Supply chain/SCM, Standardization, IT & software, Evaluation & assessment, Materials Management