RFID Applications for Patient Safety in the Healthcare Sector

Abstract

Internet of things (IoT) is revolutionizing industries through enabling object identification, traceability, real-time communication, and monitoring. In healthcare (HC), IoT can reduce the unneeded physical contact through the possibilities of remote monitoring and tracking of patients, which can be used in pandemic control scenarios. One area of paramount importance in HC is patient safety. Published statistics suggest a mounting number of patient mistreatments due to the erroneous identification of the patient or the drug administered. Radio frequency identification (RFID) is envisioned as a disruptive innovation in HC and represents several opportunities for increased safety. The authors explore the potentials and challenges of RFID adoption in HC with a focus on patient safety. The findings suggest that there has been a surge in IoT applications in HC research in the last two years concerning pandemic control. However, the high costs of adoption and implementation, security and privacy concerns, and human safety risks are among the main barriers to adopting IoT in HC.