RFID in healthcare - identification of patients, equipment and drugs
Healthcare is all about patient safety, full traceability and resource availability. RFID helps reduce errors, streamline logistics and provide reliable data on equipment, drugs and medical supplies. Implementation begins with the process and selection of technology (UHF or HF/NFC) for real-world working conditions.
Most common RFID applications in hospital and medical facilities
RFID supports processes where rapid identification and event logging are important. With contactless reading, you can automate activities at the patient's bedside, in the medical warehouse and in equipment circulation.
- Identify patients (banding) and reduce the risk of confusion.
- Tracking of medical equipment (asset tracking) and its location.
- Control of the circulation of instruments and kits (e.g., sterilization, release, return).
- Management of drugs and materials: admissions, releases, batch control.
- Control of access to zones (warehouses, branches, technical rooms).
UHF or HF/NFC in medicine - the choice of technology
HF/NFC (close range) is often chosen for identifying people and processes at the counter. UHF (longer range and group readout) works well in logistics, warehouses and for quick inventory of assets.
Selection should take into account metal, fluids, EM environment and data security requirements.
- HF/NFC: patient wristbands, staff identification, "touch" reading points.
- UHF: inventory of assets, logistics, reading multiple tags at once.
- On-metal tags: metal equipment and components.
Reading infrastructure: stations, gates and handhelds
Depending on the process, station readers (e.g., at release), handhelds for quick inventory, and reading points in flow zones are used. Reading selectivity and stability in a real-world environment are key.
- Positions: release/return verification, kit picking.
- Handhelds: fast localization and inventory of equipment.
- Gates/zones: a record of the flow of resources at selected points.
Data integration and quality (EPC/UID, events, auditing)
RFID gives an identifier (EPC/UID) and a read event. The system (HIS/ERP/WMS) maps the identifiers to a patient, resource or batch. Consistent serialization and reporting are the basis for reliable data.
- Serialization and tag encoding report.
- Handling of events: reception, release, return, sterilization, review.
- Audit, compliance and data traceability in the process (traceability).
FAQ
Most common questions about this RFID application — if you need help choosing tags or running pilot tests, write to us.
Do you have a similar project?
Describe the material (metal/liquid/textiles), working conditions and the expected read range. We’ll select RFID UHF or HF/NFC tags, propose the process and prepare a B2B quote.