RFID Hospital Asset Tracking Demo with Gary Moe

Summary

Gary Mo, president and CEO of ID Integration, discusses the company's role as an RFID systems integrator and highlights key innovations in passive RFID technology. With over 25 years of experience, ID Integration showcases their work with Boeing and the use of RFID for asset, specimen, and surgical tray tracking in hospitals. The demonstration features the Zebra HC50 with an RFD40 reader, illustrating real-time tracking capabilities for hospital assets like beds and pumps. The company provides end-to-end solutions, including system design, installation, training, and tagging services, aiming to enhance hospital efficiency and reduce errors.

Takeaways

• 😀 ID Integration is an RFID systems integrator based in Seattle, with over 25 years of experience in the industry.
• 😀 The company’s first RFID project was with Boeing, highlighting its long history in RFID technology.
• 😀 Passive RFID technology has significantly improved over the years, making it more effective for various applications.
• 😀 The company is showcasing RFID technology for asset tracking, specimen tracking, and tray tracking at the Zebra booth.
• 😀 The Zebra HC50 with an RFD40 reader is used to track hospital assets, demonstrating the effectiveness of RFID in healthcare.
• 😀 The Geiger counter mode allows precise tracking of hospital assets, like parts, beds, wheelchairs, and pumps, within the hospital.
• 😀 RFID labels are now small enough to be used on hospital assets, with read ranges of up to 8 feet for smaller items and up to 25 feet for larger items.
• 😀 Zebra fixed readers and antennas have allowed RFID coverage across entire hospital facilities, even integrated into ceiling panels.
• 😀 Specimen tracking is a key use case for RFID in hospitals, with a demonstration of its workflow.
• 😀 Surgical trays are commonly lost in hospitals, and RFID technology is used to track and prevent delays or cancellations of surgeries due to missing trays.
• 😀 ID Integration provides a total solution, from system design, installation, and training to tagging services for hospitals to clean and update their data.

Q & A

What is ID Integration and what do they specialize in?

ID Integration is an RFID systems integrator based in Seattle, specializing in providing RFID solutions, especially in passive RFID technology, for industries like healthcare, retail, and logistics.

What significant milestone does ID Integration have in the RFID industry?

ID Integration's first RFID project was completed with Boeing over 25 years ago, marking a key milestone in their experience and contribution to the RFID industry.

How does passive RFID technology benefit healthcare settings?

Passive RFID technology benefits healthcare settings by enabling real-time tracking of hospital assets, specimen tracking, and surgical tray management, thus improving efficiency, reducing losses, and preventing delays.

Can you describe the role of the Zebra HC50 and RFD40 reader in the demonstration?

The Zebra HC50 and RFD40 reader are used to track hospital assets in the demonstration. The devices allow for pinpointing and tracking items like beds, wheelchairs, and pumps, using RFID tags with varying read ranges depending on the size of the asset.

What unique feature of the RFID system is showcased for asset tracking in hospitals?

The Geiger counter mode is a unique feature of the RFID system, which helps in locating hospital assets by providing audible feedback. The reader’s beep gets louder as it nears the tagged item, making it easier to find assets in large hospital environments.

How effective is the read range of RFID tags in healthcare settings?

RFID tags in healthcare settings are effective over different ranges: smaller tags have a read range of up to 8 feet, while larger tags can reach up to 20-25 feet, making them suitable for tracking various hospital assets, from small pumps to large beds.

What use cases are being demonstrated for RFID in hospitals at the Zebra booth?

The use cases demonstrated include asset tracking (e.g., beds, wheelchairs), specimen tracking (e.g., lab samples), and surgical tray tracking, where RFID helps ensure that these items are not misplaced, improving hospital operations and patient care.

Why is surgical tray tracking so important in hospitals?

Surgical tray tracking is critical because misplaced or lost surgical trays can delay or even cancel surgeries, leading to significant operational disruptions. RFID technology helps hospitals keep track of surgical trays, ensuring they are where they need to be.

What services does ID Integration provide to hospitals beyond RFID hardware?

Beyond RFID hardware, ID Integration offers full-service solutions including system design, engineering, installation, training, and tagging services. They assist hospitals in setting up and maintaining their RFID systems to ensure proper asset tracking and data accuracy.

What challenges do hospitals face that RFID technology helps solve?

Hospitals face challenges like lost assets, misplaced surgical trays, and delayed procedures. RFID technology addresses these problems by providing real-time location data for assets, specimens, and surgical trays, reducing the risk of operational delays and improving efficiency.