RFID in the Healthcare Industry

Abstract

With its potential and unique uses, healthcare is one of the new sectors where RFID technology is being considered and adopted. Improving the healthcare supply chain, patient safety, and monitoring of critical processes are some of the key drivers that motivate healthcare industry participants to invest in this technology. Many forward-looking healthcare organizations have already put the potential of RFID into practice and are realizing the benefits of it. This study examines these empirical applications and provides a framework of current RFID implementations in healthcare industry and opportunities for continued applications. The framework also presents a categorical analysis of the benefits that have been observed by the healthcare industry. In addition, major implementation challenges are discussed. The framework suggests asset management, inventory management, authenticity management, identity management, and process management are the broad areas in which RFID adoptions can be categorized. Even though this categorization captures most of the current and potential research, more empirical studies and evaluations are needed and more applied investigations have to be conducted on integrating the technology within the industry in order to fully utilize RFID.