MGMA, Project SwipeIT should go wireless
According to Health Data Management, the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) is campaigning for patient ID cards with bar codes or magnetic stripes (Click to see info on site). Project SwipeIT has the right idea with the suggestion of standardized, machine-readable cards, but it seems a little backwards to plan to bring patient ID cards into present-day health care environments with bar codes given the direction the industry is headed.
Consider Radio Frequency Identification Technology (RFID). RFID is the way many industries are taking for automatic identification and tracking of assets, inventory and, yes, people. Many hospitals, clinics and health facilities are already tracking high-value assets using active technology that can piggy-back on their existing Wi-Fi networks. Active RFID-enabled patient wristbands are fast becoming the norm as well.
Those who have a bit more foresight have already invested (or are currently investing) in passive RFID foundational solutions to track assets, manage inventory, optimize patient flow, track medications and pharmaceuticals.
The governments of several US states, and even entire countries (China) are making the transition to RFID (Licences, ID Cards, Passport Cards) instead of bar codes or magnetic stripes. RFID is to ears as bar coding is to eyes. Some refer to it as "wireless barcode technology". It's much more efficient, not requiring direct line of sight and can "hear" many things at once. It is not subject to "perception" challenges. Bar coding on the other hand requires a head-on angle and is susceptable to problems with damage, wear and human error.
It just seems to me that if we are taking health care in the US to the next level, we should be stepping forward rather than laterally. The efficiency, accuracy and interoperability of RFID systems offer a much better opportunity for health care identification.
Current-day RFID technology offers just as much security as bar coding and only those with access to the database of patient information could access the cardholder's associated information.
The ID cards make sense, but the driving technology needs to be re-thought.
For more information on RFID in Health Care, check out http://www.DynamicRFIDSolutions.com or read our Health Care RFID BLOG.
Consider Radio Frequency Identification Technology (RFID). RFID is the way many industries are taking for automatic identification and tracking of assets, inventory and, yes, people. Many hospitals, clinics and health facilities are already tracking high-value assets using active technology that can piggy-back on their existing Wi-Fi networks. Active RFID-enabled patient wristbands are fast becoming the norm as well.
Those who have a bit more foresight have already invested (or are currently investing) in passive RFID foundational solutions to track assets, manage inventory, optimize patient flow, track medications and pharmaceuticals.
The governments of several US states, and even entire countries (China) are making the transition to RFID (Licences, ID Cards, Passport Cards) instead of bar codes or magnetic stripes. RFID is to ears as bar coding is to eyes. Some refer to it as "wireless barcode technology". It's much more efficient, not requiring direct line of sight and can "hear" many things at once. It is not subject to "perception" challenges. Bar coding on the other hand requires a head-on angle and is susceptable to problems with damage, wear and human error.
It just seems to me that if we are taking health care in the US to the next level, we should be stepping forward rather than laterally. The efficiency, accuracy and interoperability of RFID systems offer a much better opportunity for health care identification.
Current-day RFID technology offers just as much security as bar coding and only those with access to the database of patient information could access the cardholder's associated information.
The ID cards make sense, but the driving technology needs to be re-thought.
For more information on RFID in Health Care, check out http://www.DynamicRFIDSolutions.com or read our Health Care RFID BLOG.
posted by Mika Lofton at
1:29 PM
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