• Functions And Working Of RFID As Against Bar Codes
• Various Areas Where Radio Frequency Identification Is In Use
• Problems Faced By Use Of RFID
• Benefits Of Radio Frequency Identification System
• Radio-frequency Identification - How Does RFID Work?
• RFID - Pros And Cons
• RFID Applications In Healthcare
• Passive Vs Active RFID Tags

RFID Applications In Healthcare

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RFID (Radio Frequency and Identification) is one of the latest technologies garnering huge attention in the healthcare and allied market in recent times. Product security can be best ensured now with RFID applications like those in healthcare which has proven to be a real value alternative. The healthcare industry has benefited greatly by the integration of this technology. This is one industry that cannot afford to make mistakes, in event of which losses at personal and financial levels become irreparable.

Operational systems need to be efficient to be error-free which is targeted by most systems within healthcare clinics and hospitals and need to be improved whenever possible. Since the volume of patients is very huge in certain setups, keep a proper check on patient records and maintaining efficiency only gets tougher for the hospital authorities and management. For the patients to benefit nurses and doctors put in a lot of effort day and night the need for advanced technology to complement human effort is now more required than ever. In the healthcare industry the RFID applications of different kinds are being used. In the initial stages this technology did not bag a positive response but as trends changed, the healthcare industry has made it a major part of its internal systems.

Some of the medicines are being traded illicitly all over the world as indicated by the WHO or the World Health Organization. Due to such trade the pharmaceutical companies have been going into huge losses and besides this, due to improper or fake drugs millions of people are losing their lives in the bargain. RFID technology can now avert these threats. A unique identity and code is provided to the medicines with RFID tags. In case illegal distribution of fake medicines takes place, it can get identified very easily.

RFID also helps to keep a check on medications that have expired and those that are manufactured, stocked and delivered. After the first level of supply, all the remaining medicines have to be taken stock of. Keeping an eye on available medicines is possible for distributors now with the help of the RFID tags. Required stock can be sorted for requirement during emergency situations. Distributors and suppliers are able to not only improve efficiency but at the same time save money as well. Besides medicines, the RFID technology also helps in ensuring safety of medical instruments. Before using medical equipments or before reusing them, sterilizing them is mandatory or else infections and disease could spread.

Information on medicines in the storage chambers can be availed from the RFID tags on the devices. In this way data on unclean or unsterilized medical instruments can be availed and their use can be avoided. A lot of time is saved as the RFID technology is able to identify exact location of the medicines and medical instruments very quickly. RFID technology also helps in dealing with packaging problems, used in the drug approval process, enables tracking of patient's health reports, patients database management etc. In the health care industry chances of human error are very high due to which RFID applications in healthcare are made an integral part of the arena.