American Hospital Association
RFID technology remains an important part of supply chain and inventory management across the healthcare industry, but a recent article from the American Hospital Association highlights methods for employing RFID in new ways. Because RFID tags allow for tracking inventory en masse (as opposed to individual barcode scanning), healthcare facilities are using the technology to monitor crash cart supplies, drug kits, and beyond in real time. Whether scanning an individual crash cart or evaluating facility-wide inventory, RFID allows for consistency and efficiency in determining expiration dates, restock or removal needs, and sharing data across facilities.
While tagging medications and equipment requires some additional labor – falling either to healthcare facility staff or manufacturers – the improved accuracy and reduced frustration often makes the tagging process a worthwhile investment.