RFID based asset tracking system : case study of Tan Tock Seng Hospital

Abstract

Due to the growing population as well as aging population, it is a global trend that many countries, including Singapore, are investing heavily in the healthcare industry to improve the quality of their healthcare services by integrating information technologies. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology is one of them. With proper implementation, RFID in healthcare inventory management can reduce manpower, increase efficiency, increase the time for direct patient care, enhance patient safety as well as eliminate excess inventory cost.

This report presents a case study of inventory management of a mobile medical asset, infusion pumps, in Tan Tock Seng Hospital using RFID technology, Mobile assets such as wheelchairs, beds and infusion pumps are difficult to track and locate as they are always move within wards and departments due to their high utilization rate. As a result, they have low availability and status visibility.

In this study, data collection and field investigations are carried out to gain full understanding of current workflow processes and the problems faced. After analyzing the current situation, process reengineering is carried out based on the framework developed and the RFID solution. Finally, a user interface is developed. It functions as a complementary to the new workflow processes and the RFID system. This framework is extendable to other applications of RFID technology in the hospital.