Using Survey Data to Design a RFID Centric Service System for Hospitals

Abstract

The continuous growth of health care services expenses urges U.S. government to take actions. The adoption of Information Technology, and especially RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) allow hospitals to re-engineer their processes in order to reduce costs, maintaining the same level of service to the patients. Information technology represents a core element of the service itself; therefore a service design approach is believed to improve the adoption rate of RFID in hospitals. The main goal of the present study is to propose an RFID based service platform for hospitals, which is consistent with a service science driven design approach. A survey of 33 California based hospitals has been used to identify the user requirements of the hospitals. Later, a business process re-engineering for hospitals is proposed. Firstly the different actors involved in the health care services, along with their relationships in terms of information flows, are identified. This leads us to identify the various operations in a hospital setting that have a potential to be streamlined by introducing RFID technology. Having introduced these operations, we theorize a customizable RFID service, which can be implemented sequentially by each hospital according to its individual conditions such that it suits them most. [Service Science, ISSN 2164-3962 (print), ISSN 2164-3970 (online), was published by Services Science Global (SSG) from 2009 to 2011 as issues under ISBN 978-1-4276-2090-3.]

An exploratory analysis of hospital perspectives on real time information requirements and perceived benefits of RFID technology for future adoption

“…RFID applications can be grouped under three categories: asset control and management, people monitoring, and asset and people integration (Mogre, Gadh, & Chattopadhyay, 2009). Some of the reported benefits of RFID are: reduced amount of rental, lost or stolen equipment, reduced time spent locating missing equipment, optimized inventory levels and better managed consignment stock, expired products and recall notifications with RFID, reduce shrinkage and ensure high-value items do not expire before use (Reyes et al, 2012).…”

“…Financial concerns, such as funding and cost were usually rated highest. Fosso Wamba et al (2013) reported that the most highly published RFID-enabled healthcare issues are related to data management, security and privacy issues (Bunduchi, Weisshaar, & Smart, 2011;Fosso Wamba et al, 2008;Li, Godon, & Visich, 2010;Matta et al, 2012;Mogre et al, 2009;Vijayaraman & Osyk, 2006;Yao et al, 2012).…”

“…RFID based tagging can provide better system visibility that leads to significant increases in efficiency, patient care and safety. More effective communications among staff, increased asset utilization, enhancement of the patient-care process, better participation of the patients in care process and better visibility on the workflow, are among the significant drivers (Bendavid, Boeck, & Philippe, 2010;Mogre et al, 2009;Qu et al, 2011;Revere et al, 2010;Reyes et al, 2012;Tzeng, Chen, & Pai, 2008).…”

“…Another significant asset is comprised of patient charts, laboratory samples/specimens, materials, devices, surgical tools, and drugs administrated to patients (Bendavid et al, 2010;Mogre et al, 2009;Najera, Lopez, & Roman, 2011;Reyes et al, 2012;Tzeng et al, 2008). Medical material tracking and proper administration of drugs play a crucial role in patient safety.…”

A discrete simulation model for incorporating RFID technology into the Brazilian postal service

“…Fosso Wamba et al (2008) concluded that (1) the RFID-EPC network can improve the ''shipping', 'receiving', and 'put-away' processes, (2) these technologies can cancel, automate, or automatically trigger some business processes, (3) they foster a higher level of information sharing/ ynchronisation between supply chain members and (4) they require being integrated into a wider strategy. Mogre et al (2009) studied the introduction of RFID systems in healthcare services. The authors argue that RFID technology allows the healthcare service providers to reengineer their processes in order to reduce costs, maintaining the same level of service to the patients.…”