RFID Technology Tracks Medical Equipment
Symmetry Medical and Solstice Medical are partnering to include RFID (radio frequency identification) tags to track cases containing instruments for orthopaedic surgeons. Tracking and accounting for the large number of instruments included, often in the hundreds, is a time consuming process.
Symmetry Medical, which provides orthopaedic equipment and implants, proposes integration of the technology as a means to improve patient safety. Each instrument is counted, at least before and after a surgical procedure. Integrating RFID tags will facilitate this process. In the operating room, this may improve the ability to identify if devices have been left inside a patient.
Symmetry also proposes that RFID will allow hospitals to improve means for tracking available equipment. Solstice Medical’s expertise is managing medical equipment life cycle. Solstice has been evaluating various RFID tags to identify that most suited for surgical instruments, as well as implantable devices. One consideration for surgical instruments in determining appropriate tags are the ability to tolerate sterilization procedures. RFID Journal has more details.
A broader application of RFID tagging is the overall medical supply chain. Biomet Europe implemented RFID tags in orthopaedic knee kits. Tracking was geared to ensure that complete kits were both sent to and returned from orthopaedists using the knee replacement kits.
The FDA, too, is examing the utility of RFID technology. They are evaluating the impact of device tracking in the supply chain on patient safety.
Related stories:
- RFID’s Adoption in Supply Chains Proves Slow, But Hospitals Make It Work
- Gundersen Lutheran Handles Instruments with Wireless
- RFID for Health Care Productivity
- Active Supply Chain Management Can Cut Costs, Improve Service
March 17, 2007 Related topics: Partnerships & Consortia, Quality, Safety, Errors, Orthopedic, Supply chain/SCM