Active RFID System Augmented With 2D Barcode for Asset Management in a Hospital Setting

We have implemented an active radio frequency identification (RFID) asset management system at a 120 bed acute-care hospital. The RFID system is used to track more than 2500 items within the hospital including infusion pumps, beds, and wheelchairs. The goal of this RFID project is to understand the limitations and benefits of the deployed RFID technology especially with regard to assessment of how the technology could be used to improve patient safety. There were several technical limitations with the deployed RFID technology; 2D barcode technology was implemented to overcome these. This project demonstrates that RFID systems augmented with 2D barcode technology enable the improvement of many processes in the hospital, thereby increasing patient safety and reducing operational costs. In this paper, we examine the RFID technology, including the rational for selecting the specific technology for this project, the installation process, and the benefits and limitations of the technology, as well as the role of a 2D barcode technology to overcome the limitations of the chosen RFID system.