Radio Frequency Identification Technologies and Issues in Healthcare

Abstract

One of the most compelling cases for RFID-embedded technologies in the healthcare field has been made by documenting increased efficiency in supply chain performance measurements, which generally consist of financial and non-financial indicators. The following chapter suggests that patient flows and safety are key measures of hospital operation efficiency. Process bottlenecks in hospitals can delay discharge times, and lead to higher costs and lower quality of service, which in turn affects the overall performance and business of the hospital. Hospitals have struggled to control costs, and RFID-embedded technologies should allow management to prioritize their technology spending and reduce total cost of suppliers and operational expenses.