RFID Systems Help Monitor Hand Washing Compliance in Hospitals

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) systems employed in healthcare settings may help keep track of staff compliance with institutional policies, including how often they wash their hands. These are the latest findings of Kalorama Information (New York, NY, USA), an independent market research firm.

RFID technology involves the use of small tagging devices that emit radio signals, which are read by corresponding RFID readers. The tag is encoded or decoded when it is in range of the reader, and the resulting information is managed by a computer system, which allows users to interact with the data. Because they do not involve manual data entry, these systems enhance the capabilities of healthcare industry, from helping facilities plan workflow by measuring from which rooms staff enter and exit various sections, to what inventory they use, or even how compliant they are with various rules and regulations imposed by management and healthcare authorities.

One of the more important uses of RFID technology, according to the report, is the ability to monitor hand-washing compliance among healthcare personnel. With nearly two million patients developing hospital-acquired infections annually, hand-washing compliance is an important issue that will drive sales of such systems. With a RFID hand washing compliance system, when a staff member approaches the soap dispenser, the dispenser reads an RFID-encoded name badge. The system records who is at the station and when activity is taking place. Resurgent Medical (Golden, CO, USA) and Versus Technology (Traverse City, MI, USA) are among the vendors that make hand washing compliance systems. Jackson Memorial Hospital (Miami, FL, USA) is an example of one hospital that has implemented the system.

"Infection control is critical for healthcare systems as they try to reduce negative events, and RFID is one of the few technologies that can help,” said Bruce Carlson, Publisher of Kalorama Information. "The RFID system is brutally honest; if a hospital is not in compliance, the data will soon alert management. Management can then decide how to improve individual or unit behavior.”

Kalorama Information estimates there will be a US$960 million market for RFID systems in 2010.

Related Links:
Kalorama Information
Resurgent Medical
Versus Technology