Use Of RFID In COVID-19 Pandemic : Vaccines & Hospital Tracking
The microchips that are implanted in RFID tags have the ability to track and authenticate vaccines, medical equipment, PPE and test kits. The Radio-frequency Identification (RFID) technology recently started booming in various sectors. Recently, they are implemented in the retail, healthcare, logistics as well as baggage tracking industry because of its reliable rfid inventory management system.
Now, these various sectors use RFID in the fight against COVID-19; specifically the microchips inserted into the RFID tags. This tracks and validates the vaccine’s entire journey from the point of their manufacture until they reach the clinical site. Some of the items they track include personal protective equipment (PPEs), test kits as well as high-value drug treatments.
In some cases, RFID tool tracking can even monitor how specific healthcare clinicians use their hand-washing equipment. Additionally, the technology has the ability to track and transfer data in real-time. With all these cutting edge features, it significantly helps the medical industry in the battle against the rapidly changing COVID-19 pandemic.
Read on to find out how exactly RFID implementation is benefitting the medical industry during COVID-19.
Vaccines and plasma visibility in real-time
Quick and accurate drug reading is vital in minimising or even eliminating the number of errors in patient medication administration. Likewise, verifying the prescribed dosage for patients is just as crucial when it comes to patient care; which is where RFID is used.
The advent of RFID convalescent plasma tracking is able to fully track the progress of COVID-19 patients’ recovery journey. Plasma are collected from these patients to give antibodies for the current patients. The technology offers real-time visibility from the time of collection until its distribution.
For example, a packaging manufacturer, contracts with the government to offer space for NFC RFID chips on personal prefilled syringes. The NFC RFID chip links to specific health worker’s mobile phones. An administrator then remotely tracks each injection administered in real-time.
Meanwhile, RFID technology and Blockchain tracking ensure that vaccines remain untampered and not counterfeit while verifying the sequence within a chain of command. Also, the sensors help in verifying that the vaccines reach designated locations.
Hospital monitoring: Hand-washing
Hand-washing is an essential aspect of hygiene in healthcare especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. For instance, the RAIN RFID, a sensor technology, makes things more feasible for staff in hospitals to comply with hand-washing protocols.
RFID reader reads badges or tags on healthcare workers’ uniforms at a hand-washing station. This allows the management to track the times each individual washes their hands. Although this is useful, most hospitals use RFID more frequently in tracking durable medical equipment as well as other precious assets. This works effectively since it can be tracked without having to touch the assets directly or manually inspect them.
Moreover, staff can easily locate equipment in a hospital by utilising this technology. Also, the RFID tag readers in the entire facility can track equipment’s location and movement, and this extends to using RFID tags in tracking consumables like highly valuable assets or medications.
The fast-paced healthcare industry has to constantly improve and innovate to meet the supply demands of medication, track the location and health of patients, and safeguard expensive and critical medical equipment. Especially with COVID-19, the implementation of RFID technology has become more important than ever.
