3 Ways RFID Promotes Worker Safety During COVID-19
The advent of the recent pandemic brought forth problems not just for the general populace, but also for the healthcare industry that must deal with it.
Out of the many pressing concerns that hospital managers need to face, the safety of workers is especially important. This is because staff such as nurses and physicians have to directly face those afflicted with the virus and care for them without getting infected themselves.
Besides the usual benefits of using RFID tool tracking systemsin the hospice, the technology can be further leveraged with the aid of creativity, imagination, and middleware to support its purposes. Discover how RFID tech can further aid healthcare workers during the pandemic.
1. Ensure sublime hygienic protocols & practices
Certain protocols set in place by healthcare authorities can be more closely monitored with the help of RFID. For instance, one of the key practices in preventing the spread of the virus is to frequently wash and sanitise one’s hands.
Hospitals can keep a close eye on this matter by installing RFID readers at restrooms or hand-washing stations and equipping RFID tags on their staff. Whenever a worker visits these areas, the readers can pick up their identity and log the event onto the system’s database, which can then be analysed to reveal the frequency of each individual as to how regular this is practised.
2. Improvement management of PPE & scrubs
The distribution of scrubs and, more importantly, PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) can be improved via automation with the help of RFID-enabled solutions such as RFID cabinets and RFID smart trolleys. RFID tags can be embedded onto each piece of the PPE and registered in the cabinet’s inventory management system to track its usage and users.
This automated system allows management to know which ones require cleaning and sanitation, thus preventing hoarding or even theft. Additionally, thanks to the digitalisation of the distribution process, clinical workers will no longer need to spend much time trying to look for the ones in their size.
3. Provides precise temperature monitoring of vaccines
The advent of vaccines against the virus and its continued distribution worldwide has allowed the global economy to slowly and steadily get back on its feet. To help accelerate that process, the healthcare sector must be quick and efficient in its distribution and handling of these vaccines.
Out of the many challenges that hinder this goal, the logistics and distribution is one aspect that RFID can assist. Since some vaccines need to stay in certain conditions to retain their potency, such as Pfizer’s which must be kept at minus 70 degrees Celsius. As such, RFID tags can help monitor the temperature conditions of these doses during shipping and storage. The tag instantly detects any changes in the temperature, and delivery workers can be notified immediately should there be any concern.
Due to RFID’s flexibility, it has now become indispensable not just to retail and commercial businesses, but also to the healthcare sector.
