A new partnership is using RFID to connect hospital clinicians and patients to the EHR.
Barcoding, a Baltimore-based developer of supply chain solutions, is teaming up with Better Day Health to make the latter's clinical documentation platform accessible through radio frequency identification. The concept would enable clinicians to access and amend medical records and receive real-time decision support simply by walking into a patient's room and having their ID badge "read" by an RFID reader, which would then push data to the clinician's smartphone or tablet through the Better Day app.
Real-time location system (RTLS) technology like RFID and sonar have proven popular in supply chain management and for locating inventory and people (doctors, nurses and patients) in a health system setting. This is one of the first projects to connect the technology to the clinical record.
[See also: RTLS and mHealth: Making a business case]
"Doctors are the world's most expensive clerical workers," Peter Ragusa, MD, CEO for New Orleans-based Better Day Health, said in a press release. "They are using valuable time to fill out electronic health records and compile medical histories. Barcoding has provided us with the technology needed to bring our vision to … create an intelligent, automated, hands-free experience in the exam room. In conjunction with Better Day, Barcoding will help doctors have more meaningful interactions with more patients, in less time, and without all of the burdensome data entry."
According to company officials, patients checking into a hospital will be issued RFID-enabled badges that link to their EHR, thereby linking them to their data no matter where they go in the hospital. With clinical staff, their ID badges are triggered when they enter the patient's exam room, automatically logging them in and connecting them with the appropriate medical record through their mobile device or a nearby workstation. In addition, company officials say, the Better Day app uses passive voice recognition to deliver decision support and documentation tools to the clinician.
Like traditional RFID networks in healthcare settings, the Barcoding platform also tracks clinicians and patients through its RFID RealView software, enabling executives to manage patient flow and identify where their staff are located.
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