Healthcare industry is the second biggest consumer of RFID tags and labels after retail sector globally. RFID technology is greatly adopted by healthcare providers for various reasons, including asset management in healthcare settings, patient safety, access control and safety at the premises, appointments, OPD management, crowd control and many other.
RFID technology, as we all know, is an accurate, efficient, and powerful technology that offers unlimited opportunities in healthcare, retail, supply chain businesses, and more when it comes to automation. RFID tag readers and software solutions today make it easy to track valuable items, manage inventory, monitor access to restricted areas, and offer safety and security to all the people working with a business.
So, if you are a healthcare provider and want to implement an RFID technology based asset management system at your premises, what are the components that you’ll need? This has been a constant question in the minds of every healthcare business owner wanting to bring automation in how one manages inventory of crucial medical supplies, medical devices, etc.
Let’s see how all of this works and how one can easily deploy an RFID-based asset management solution.
RFID Asset Management in Healthcare: Components Needed
RFID asset management refers to RFID tagging all the crucial assets at the healthcare premises and keeping track of these assets, their movements, and their inventory. Particularly in healthcare, these assets could be crucial medicines, surgical medical tools, diagnosis machines, etc.
To implement such a system, what are the crucial components needed, then?
For an RFID-based asset management system in healthcare, you’ll need:
1.RFID tags and labels
2. RFID Readers- Fixed and handheld readers
3. RFID antennas
4. RFID printers
5. RF Cables and mounting accessories
6. Software system
1.RFID tagging of Healthcare Assets
RFID tags and labels are used to tag healthcare assets such as medical equipment (e.g., infusion pumps, wheelchairs, surgical instruments), medications, or patient wristbands. These tags store unique identifiers and sometimes additional data (e.g., asset name, maintenance history, or expiration date).
Due to their cost-effectiveness and great performance, RAIN RFID Tags (UHF RFID Passive Tags) are the best solution for tagging healthcare assets. These tags can withstand harsh environments and stand sterilization as well.
Additionally, some healthcare assets are made of metals and require special tags called Anti-metal tags that can work against the interference offered by metal and perform really well.
RFID wristbands are also very popular when it comes to patient tracking. These paper/silicon wristbands are used by healthcare institutions to track the patient throughout the premises and manage patient care, billing, etc.
1.Tags enable precise location tracking, reducing time spent searching for assets (e.g., nurses spend ~6,000 hours/month searching for equipment).
2. High-value assets like stretchers or diagnostic tools are monitored to prevent loss or theft, saving costs (e.g., Saint Luke’s reduced inventory value from $3.2M to $2.7M)
3. Tags ensure assets meet regulatory standards (e.g., FDA’s Unique Device Identifier) by tracking sterilization or maintenance status.
4. Tracking surgical trays or medications prevents errors, ensuring the right equipment or drugs are used.
5. RFID flag tags can be easily attached to medical assets such as vaccine vials and blood test tubes where these tags easily overcome RFID interference issues from liquid contents.
2. Reading Data using RFID Fixed Readers
Fixed RFID readers are stationary devices installed at strategic locations like doorways, hallways, or inventory rooms to create “read zones.” They emit radio waves to detect tags within their range (up to 150 meters for active tags, 10–20 meters for passive UHF tags) and transmit data to a central system. A Fixed Reader like the Zebra FX9600 can easily read 1200 tags per second and efficiently track assets passing through the read range of the reader.
1.As tagged assets pass through a read zone, the reader captures the tag’s unique ID and other stored data (e.g., location, timestamp) without needing line-of-sight, unlike barcodes.
2. Data is sent to asset management software, updating asset locations or inventory counts instantly.
3. Fixed readers automate inventory counts at dock doors, track equipment movement across departments, or ensure compliance by monitoring asset flow (e.g., autoclaving processes).
3. Scanning Tagged Assets Using RFID Handheld Readers in Healthcare
RFID scanning in healthcare uses both fixed and handheld readers to collect tag data. Handheld readers are portable, allowing staff to scan assets in patient rooms, storage areas, or during audits, while fixed readers handle high-traffic areas. A handheld reader from Zebra, the RFD40 can easily scan 1300 tags per second and offers an excellent read range of 15m.
1.Staff use handheld readers to scan medication bottles or equipment, verifying stock levels or expiration dates in seconds.
2. Handhelds help locate misplaced equipment (e.g., infusion pumps) by detecting tags from a distance, with great precision, even without line-of-sight.
3. Handheld readers are quick and easy to use allowing inventory checks from room doorways, minimizing patient disturbance.
4. The Asset Management Software for Healthcare
Healthcare Asset management software integrates RFID data from patients and valuable healthcare assets to provide a centralized platform for tracking, managing, and analysing these healthcare assets. It processes data from fixed and handheld readers, offering real-time visibility and actionable insights.
It offers the following benefits:
1.Real-time dashboards
Display asset locations, status, and utilization (e.g., custom floorplans showing equipment positions).
2. Automated alerts
Notify staff of low inventory, misplaced assets, or maintenance needs.
3. Analytics
Analyze asset usage patterns to optimize purchasing or staffing (e.g., predict equipment demand based on patient flow.
4. Integration
Connects with hospital information systems (e.g., electronic health records) for seamless workflows.
5. Compliance tracking
Logs sterilization, maintenance, or expiration data to meet regulations like the GS1 standards.
In summary, RFID technology is very effective in healthcare asset management, allowing quick inventory management, audit, and item finding in healthcare institutions. It can be easily integrated with existing healthcare ERP and saves costs in the long run for many reasons including prevention of theft and misplacement of costly medical devices, medicines, and vaccines, etc. it can also automate patient tracking and always keep you updated on hospital inventory and replenishment needs.
Being passive UHF RFID, these RFID tags are cost-effective, and can be easily procured from EnCstore.com and simply asset management in healthcare institutions.
The use of RFID technology is not just limited to tracking medical devices and medicines, it can also be used to track files and crucial documents, its movement throughout the premise and to locate a file in real-time as well.
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