This document provides an overview of Alexander Beisser's study on using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to improve safety in blood transfusion management. The study aims to audit current barcode and RFID technologies to see if RFID can enhance safety by automatically authenticating patients, clinicians, and blood products. It discusses advantages and disadvantages of barcode technology currently used, as well as advantages and challenges of implementing RFID. Examples of RFID use in healthcare are provided. The document is intended to brief readers on the motivation and focus of Beisser's study.
3. 3
About this study
Alexander Beisser
Works for ICT Shared Services at Newham University
Hospital Trust
Dissertation for Master of Science in Health
Informatics
City University London
Course accredited by NHS Connecting for Health
4. 4
About this study
The main question
Can the emerging Radio Frequency Identification
technology help to make blood transfusion safer,
more reliable and allow better tracking of (used)
blood products within a secondary care setting like
Newham University Hospital Trust in accordance
with the requirements of the National Patient Safety
Agency and SHOT1 initiatives?
1Serious Hazards of Transfusion, Manchester, UK
5. 5
About this study
The aim of project
Audit and analysis of technology available to
enhance safety in the transfusion process in a
secondary care setting.
Barcode versus Radio Frequency technology
Investigation into the possibility to use RFID technology
to improve safety in transfusion medicine in accordance
to NPSA Right patient – right blood initiative.
6. 6
About this study
Motivation for study
Safety of blood transfusions :
609 cases reported to SHOT1 in 2005 (out of more than
3.6 million transfusions)
37% of transfusion related errors occur in hospital
transfusion laboratory environment
Most common error is IBCT (485 cases = 79%)
1358 near miss incidences
SHOT recommendations
Right patient – right blood initiative of NPSA
And others
1Serious Hazards of Transfusion, Manchester, UK
7. 7
About this study
Audit to be performed to see if:
Can RFID technology be added to barcode system?
Can semi-active / active be used to automatically
interrogate and audits blood products for blood products
condition
Has RFID technology the potential to reduce IBCT error
rate?
How can RFID improve safety by automatic authentication
of
Patient
Clinician / nurse
Blood product
8. 8
About this study
The focus points in project
In blood banks
Monitoring of blood products condition
At patient bedside
Correct blood for correct patient
Patient identification
Patient condition monitoring
(temperature, etc.)
Audit of blood products used in
transfusion
9. 9
About Barcode Technology
Machine readable representation of information
Use of dark ink on light background to create high / low reflectance to
represent converted 1s and 0s
Information is read by optical barcode readers (barcode scanner) using
a laser beam
Developed in 1948, first commercial use in 1966, success in 1980’s
Barcodes are nowadays commonly used to capture ID Data to identify
products, goods or other items
Examples: Supermarket checkouts, sample identification in pathology (or
other healthcare) environment
Typical Linear Barcode
as it can be found
on everyday products
2 dimensional barcode
as it can be found
i.e. in a pathology setting
Barcode reader
(cordless version)
10. 10
About Barcode Technology
Advantages of Barcodes
Virtually free (≈ £0.003 per code for linear
barcodes)
Widely used within retail and supply chain industry
Used within healthcare settings
Easy implementation
Well-formed and established international and
European standards
Users are well aware of technology
Easy to use and therefore lower training costs
Can be used across industry and country borders
11. 11
About Barcode Technology
Disadvantages of Barcodes (I)
Line of sight required to read barcode
Only one barcode can be read at a time
Reading speed lower than RFID
Reading of label can be difficult when label is
curved or crumbling
Dust and dirt influence readability of code
12. 12
About Barcode Technology
Disadvantages of Barcodes (II)
Label can crumble when exposed to water (i.e.
when patient is taking a shower)
Limited amount of data can be stored on label
No additional data can be written or stored on
label except a unique number
New label is required when data format / structure
changes or multiple barcodes are needed
A connection to a database is required
13. 13
About RFID Technology
Automatic identification method
First used in 1939 by Royal Air Force to distinguish between
enemy and allied aircrafts
Storage of information on electronic tags
Data is retrieved by RFID readers (interrogators) from a distance
that can be greater then with barcodes
Widely used in retail and supply chain sectors
Healthcare industry shows more interest in emerging RFID
solutions for healthcare settings
Technology consist of
Antenna incorporated
into RFID tag
Electronic RFID tag RFID reader
(here attached to a PDA)
15. 15
About RFID Technology
The advantages of RFID
Contact-free authentication
Out of sight authentication
Read and write to tags
Store data on tags
Immunity to dust and dirt on patient
wristband
Data processing done by reader
Tag can monitor conditions and
Alert when use by date or other conditions are reached
No permanent database connection required (dependent
on the data stored on wristband)
Integration into other business processes
16. 16
About RFID Technology
The challenges for using RFID
Costs of tags
Cost of infrastructure
Interference with other medical equipment
Standardisation still in progress
Data privacy
Acceptability by patients and staff
Not yet widely used within the NHS
Process re-engineering could be required
No out-of-box solution available
17. 17
About RFID Technology
RFID technology in healthcare (I)
RFID projects and systems within healthcare
environments:
America:
Massachusetts General Hospital: Blood product tagging
Jacoby Medical Center NY: Blood product tagging
Shelby County Regional MC: Patient tracking in surgery
European Union:
Saarbruecken Clinic: Patient identification and blood product
tagging
United Kingdom:
Portsmouth NHS Trust: Blood sample & testing monitoring
Birmingham Heartlands Hospital: Patient and equipment
tracking in surgery
Wirral Hospital NHS Trust: Patient tracking
18. 18
About RFID Technology RFID
technology in healthcare (II)
Birmingham Heartlands Hospital:
Patient & equipment tracking in surgery
South Tyneside NHS Trusts:
Mother baby matching / monitor
Mayday Hospital Croydon NHS Trust: Blood
tracking
Mersey General Hospital:
Staff location tracking for panic alert system
Portsmouth NHS Trust:
Tracking of blood tests
Wirral Hospital NHS Trust:
Patient tracking in A&E Department
Dudley Hospital:
Baby tracking in delivery suite
Brighton & Hove University Hospital: Equipment
library
Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust: Patient notes
tracking
Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority: IVF
egg tracking
19. 19
The questionnaire
A short note about the questionnaire:
Anonymous questionnaire
Contains open answer and rating questions
To answer rating questions
circle the scale at the appropriate point.
20. 20
Thank you
Thank you very much for your attention.
Please feel free to contact me if you have
any further questions.
Alex Beisser MSc, BSc, CISA, ITIL
alex428uk@yahoo.com
about.me/alex428uk
uk.linkedin.com/in/beissera/