The health care industry is one of the most important sectors, which imparts its services to one and all. Every day there are new developments, inventions and research in this industry. Its main objective is to provide the best healthcare facilities and reduce the cost incurred.

The use of RFID in the healthcare sector, is new innovative and effective. It gives an overall protection to the patient and keeps an up to date record of their health.

In healthcare, RFID tags may be applied to patients, staff and to objects, thus, allowing readers on door frames, wards and treatment areas to detect and record all interactions. Some applications are:

• Identification of the Patient

• Tracking of Asset and equipments

• Increased safety and security of newborns

• Reducing drug and blood administration errors

• Providing RFID wristbands to patients in order to track them

• Easy instructions to patients (by means of innovative prescription)

• Data records of patients

• Protection of patients privacy records

The two main components of an RFID device are: RFID tags and RFID reader. These tags have a special identification number on them which can be detected by the reader. The tags can be Active or Passive depending on their use. Active tags have a longer battery life which lasts several years and has a longer range, as compared to passive tags which have a shorter range, but they are tiny and can be implanted under the patient’s skin.

The advantages of RFID tags over other methods of identification such as barcodes are that they can be read automatically even if they are not physically visible. A number of tags can be read simultaneously. Data can be fed according to need so as to maintain patient record. Through the use of RFID tags, hospital authorities can keep a complete record of a patient’s diagnosis, medication, treatment, previous treatment history, or medication the patient maybe allergic to. All this results in effective and much secure treatment.

With the changing times, and the world getting more advanced and accustomed to technologies, RFID applications in the healthcare industry are here to get a positive and effective change, and would help deliver the best!