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Part 1: RFID in Healthcare
The Approach
We are writing this paper as independents due the unique position we are taking in solving many issues confronting a total RFID “end-to-end” healthcare supply chain integration. The ideas we present are solely ours and should not be associated with their respective organizations. The paper postulates are supported by extensive field research, where we have contacted globally over 200 individuals. Previous research has never been publicly offered concerning several proofs of our postulates. Our research and field studies enable us to extrapolate our cost justification assumptions. Everything we believe appears to be borne out by these observations and research. Our field research has found these figures are well within the parameters of acceptability.
Each section of this article frames the problem and provides a solution. Moreover, we suggest several viable interim solutions that can yield similar results. Finally, we project a different future supply chain model technically, operationally and financially.
As a different marketing approach to this paper, our “reviewers” agreed to view only their own section. The entire paper has never been exposed to any one entity. We have more than 30 well-established and globally recognized companies, organizations, individuals and associated cross-industry corroborators who have shared their knowledge regarding their applicable sections. These “reviewers” are only responsible for providing information, not the totality of the papers’ content or solutions.
Introduction
Many entities in the healthcare industry are implementing RFID pilot programs. The approach of their implementation is to evaluate only a group of valuable items of each component in the supply chain separately. We propose an approach that can assist in the building of an automated supply chain in an efficacious manner.
We believe that In order to obtain true economies of scale in RFID, one needs to also tag objects that have a minimal cost value ($95 to $5,000). The majority of an operation’s inefficiencies are found at a micro level (one wheel chair: $500). Tagging items at this value level will help improve the actual individual caregiver’s efficiency, regulatory compliance, organizational confidence and patient safety. The current projects don’t address the overall outcome due to their limited scope and concentration on only high-valued assets.
The micro modular approach is timely for the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) accredited healthcare provider due to a new JCAHO requirement for maintaining life support equipment. The “Shared Visions-New Pathways” initiative requires, in order to remain an accredited healthcare facility, they must demonstrate that life support equipment receives a high priority in their equipment maintenance programs. This regulatory initiative will drive these institutions to consider RFID as a means of easing the regulatory compliance, reporting and audits that will be strictly enforced by July 1, 2005. As regulatory compliance drives many industries, we believe that the healthcare provider supply chain link will be one of the next major healthcare industry segments to look at RFID as a possible solution.
The ultimate goal of RFID is to build a completely automated supply chain. However, there are issues preventing a fully integrated healthcare supply chain solution. Some of these issues are generic in any RFID project: Industry business environment, communication; data transfer, storage and verification, etc., all tend to make total supply chain integration a distant goal.
We are writing this paper as independents due the unique position we are taking in solving many issues confronting a total RFID “end-to-end” healthcare supply chain integration. The ideas we present are solely ours and should not be associated with their respective organizations. The paper postulates are supported by extensive field research, where we have contacted globally over 200 individuals. Previous research has never been publicly offered concerning several proofs of our postulates. Our research and field studies enable us to extrapolate our cost justification assumptions. Everything we believe appears to be borne out by these observations and research. Our field research has found these figures are well within the parameters of acceptability.
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Each section of this article frames the problem and provides a solution. Moreover, we suggest several viable interim solutions that can yield similar results. Finally, we project a different future supply chain model technically, operationally and financially.
As a different marketing approach to this paper, our “reviewers” agreed to view only their own section. The entire paper has never been exposed to any one entity. We have more than 30 well-established and globally recognized companies, organizations, individuals and associated cross-industry corroborators who have shared their knowledge regarding their applicable sections. These “reviewers” are only responsible for providing information, not the totality of the papers’ content or solutions.
Introduction
Many entities in the healthcare industry are implementing RFID pilot programs. The approach of their implementation is to evaluate only a group of valuable items of each component in the supply chain separately. We propose an approach that can assist in the building of an automated supply chain in an efficacious manner.
We believe that In order to obtain true economies of scale in RFID, one needs to also tag objects that have a minimal cost value ($95 to $5,000). The majority of an operation’s inefficiencies are found at a micro level (one wheel chair: $500). Tagging items at this value level will help improve the actual individual caregiver’s efficiency, regulatory compliance, organizational confidence and patient safety. The current projects don’t address the overall outcome due to their limited scope and concentration on only high-valued assets.
The micro modular approach is timely for the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) accredited healthcare provider due to a new JCAHO requirement for maintaining life support equipment. The “Shared Visions-New Pathways” initiative requires, in order to remain an accredited healthcare facility, they must demonstrate that life support equipment receives a high priority in their equipment maintenance programs. This regulatory initiative will drive these institutions to consider RFID as a means of easing the regulatory compliance, reporting and audits that will be strictly enforced by July 1, 2005. As regulatory compliance drives many industries, we believe that the healthcare provider supply chain link will be one of the next major healthcare industry segments to look at RFID as a possible solution.
The ultimate goal of RFID is to build a completely automated supply chain. However, there are issues preventing a fully integrated healthcare supply chain solution. Some of these issues are generic in any RFID project: Industry business environment, communication; data transfer, storage and verification, etc., all tend to make total supply chain integration a distant goal.
