Healthcare RFID Labels

Radio-frequency identification (RFID) is broadly implemented across many business sectors, including the pharmaceutical industry, where it is used to prevent counterfeit pharmaceuticals. However, the healthcare field has been slow to adopt the technology to date. The industry has taken a cautious approach, conducting multiple studies to examine the benefits, perception, and potential barriers to RFID implementation. Recently, several studies have shown that hospital staff are satisfied with RFID technology for administrative functions and for patient care.

Applications & Benefits

The primary benefit of RFID in healthcare is the reduction of misidentification errors. It is an efficient and effective method of correctly identifying medical staff, patients, medication, as well as blood and tissue samples in real time, altogether improving patient safety. RFID tags can be used to detect patients who may unknowingly wander off, such as those suffering from dementia, while newborns and their mothers can have paired RFID tags, that will alert staff when separated.

RFID can also make the healthcare supply chain more efficient. By providing rapid and accurate tracking data, RFID can reduce time spent on administrative duties, increase inventory accuracy, and send medical alerts. It can also enhance patient care by decreasing medication administration times and improve communication, providing real-time information to family members about their loved ones.

Uses in Nursing

Accurate patient identification practices are at the forefront of safety initiatives in healthcare facilities. RFID technology can provide more sophisticated patient identification services by delivering real-time information and updates to nurses. It can also be programmed to send notifications for tracking dressing changes, medication administration, and allergy alerts. Nurses also play a significant role in managing resources and inventory. With its ability to store and transfer a large quantity of data, it can be used to instantaneously keep track of perishable products and valuable equipment, ensuring supplies never run low and allowing for more accurate scheduling of equipment use and maintenance.

Research & Testing

RFID technology can be used in histology, pathology, and other clinical labs to track samples and monitor workflows. Deep-freeze RFID tags can be utilized on samples stored in freezers, with flexible inlays allowing even small vials and tubes to be safely identified. One branch of the healthcare field that has already fully adopted RFID technology is assisted reproductive technology (ART) facilities that have implemented RFID alongside electronic witnessing systems to eliminate sample mismatching.

Fully Customizable

GA international can provide fully customizable RFID tags to suit your specific application. This includes a variety of inlay and antennae combinations, depending on the amount of information that needs to be encoded, your safety concerns, and the necessary read range. Our durable specialty labels combined with customizable RFID technology make for an error-free, dependable identification solution.