Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)

Presenter: Victoria Raskovich

What is an RFID?Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is an automatic identification method, relying on storing and remotely retrieving data using devices called RFID tags or transpondersAn RFID tag is an object that can be attached to or incorporated into a product, animal, or person for the purpose of identification using radio waves

What is an RFID?Similar to bar codes but able to be read by radio transmission instead of by a light sourceComprised of a microchip and antennaRFID is in use all around us: 1) Pets with an ID tag2) EZPass3) Paid for gas using SpeedPass

How is This Technology Monitored?Radio Waves are identifiedYou can see patients, etc on a Web-based enterprise platform that turns location data into real-time business logic

How Does This Technology Apply to Me?Crothall Services Group healthcare support services companyHave hospital facilities that use this technology (Cleveland Clinics Foundation)

How Does This Technology Apply to Me?Automatic asset and people tracking allows health care professionals to quickly locate patients, caregivers, and medical equipmentWith patients often scheduled for multiple procedures, knowledge of their location helps optimize the patient-care process

Who Uses RFIDs?Home DepotGapProctor & GamblePradaTargetWal-MartCasinos in Las Vegas

What Are the Benefits?Emergency management - more efficient and faster emergency responsePatient monitoring - better patient safety and increased throughputOperational costs - can be significantly reducedWorkflow management - better staff utilization

What Are the Benefits?Increased asset utilization: Poor use of assets may cause many high-value assets to go underusedHospitals continue to overspend on new and rental assetsThe ability to find assets instantaneously and improve their flow through hospitalRFIDs capture data faster than bar-codingBar-coding depends on position of the label

What Are the Limitations?Cost burden of system implementation costsCustomer is the one that benefitsPrivacy IssuesGlobal Frequency Standard is yet to be agreed upon Most likely will be UHF (ultra high frequency)

Companies Providing RFID Solutions

Ekahaus solution allows businesses to keep track of valuable assets and equipment, improve the overall workflow, and improve the levels of corporate security and customer service.

AeroScout's enterprise visibility solutions use standard Wi-Fi wireless networks to accurately locate and manage assets and people in multiple environments. The AeroScout system includes indoor and outdoor real-time asset location (RTLS).

Resourceshttp://www.ekahau.comhttp://www.aeroscout.comhttp://www.ferret.com.au/articles/ad/0c0213ad.asp (Pros and Cons on a larger scale project)http://www.zebra.com/id/zebra/na/en/index/rfid/faqs/rfid_bar_codes.html (RFIDs vs. barcoding)