A comprehensive RFID solution to enhance inpatient medication safety

Errors involving medication administration can be costly, both in financial and in human terms. Indeed, there is much potential for errors due to the complexity of the medication administration process. Nurses are often singled out as the only responsible of these errors because they are in charge of drug administration. Nevertheless, the interventions of every actor involved in the process and the system design itself contribute to errors (Wakefield et al. (1998) [23]). Proper inpatient medication safety systems can help to reduce such errors in hospitals. In this paper, we review in depth two recent proposals (Chien et al. (2010) [7]; Huang and Ku (2009) [12]) that pursue the aforementioned objective. Unfortunately, they fail in their attempt mainly due to their security faults but interesting ideas can be drawn from both. These security faults refer to impersonation and replay attacks that could produce the generation of a forged proof stating that certain medication was administered to an inpatient when it was not. We propose a leading-edge solution to enhance inpatient medication safety based on RFID technology that overcomes these weaknesses. Our solution, named Inpatient Safety RFID system (IS-RFID), takes into account the Information Technology (IT) infrastructure of a hospital and covers every phase of the drug administration process. From a practical perspective, our system can be easily integrated within hospital IT infrastructures, has a moderate cost, is very ease to use and deals with security aspects as a key point.This work was partially supported by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) under the RUBICON grant "Intrusion Detection in Ubiquitous Computing Technologies" awarded to Aikaterini Mitrokotsa.Publicad

Ambulance service operational improvement

This document is the accepted manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in International Paramedic Practice copyright © MA Healthcare, after peer review and technical editing by the Publisher. To access the final edited version see http://www.internationaljpp.com/cgi-bin/go.pl/library/article.cgi?uid=100396;article=IPP_3_3_61_63Since the start of industrialisation in the beginning of the previous century, processes, and technology have evolved drastically. Technology that had been developed for a specific application was found to open new horizons in other domains. A good example is the use of sonar technology on military submarines which eventually found medical applications in medical imaging (Oakley, 1986). The paramedic profession is still considered to be a relatively young profession, and although the clinical scope of practice of ambulance staff has widened there have been few noticeable and significant changes in the way Ambulance Services operate as public service providers. There is, however, great variation in the way pre-hospital emergency care provision is delivered and organised from country to country due for example to historical, cultural, financial, and geographical factors. Other industries are significantly more driven by profit, hence efficiency and reliability are aspects that have a direct and measurable financial impact and it acts as a driver for further developments.Peer reviewedSubmitted Versio

Deployment of radio frequency identification technology in healthcare organizations

Helena Carvalho was supported by a PhD fellowship from Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (SFRH/BD/43984/2008).The Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology is a wireless technology that uses transmitted radio signals to tag, recognize, track and trace the movement of an item automatically. The study of this technology is actually considered a hot topic in all scientific areas and has been described as a major enabling technology for the automation of many processes. Although it is not a new technology it has only recently come to the awareness of the public and widely used in many sectors and particularly in the Healthcare.This paper aims to illustrate the deployment of RFID technology in Healthcare, more precisely in infant security systems. A case study about the experience of three hospitals and one RFID technology provider is presented to highlight the main architectural characteristics, functionality, and advantages associated to its deployment.After the case studies analysis it is possible to state that the infant security systems, using the RFID technology, are not so different among research case studies: they involve RFID tagging patients, they are easy to use not requiring an extensive training and also they are installed with an interface with others security systems.publishersversionpublishe

RFID in Healthcare: A Six Sigma DMAIC and Simulation Case Study

Develop a business model to generate quantitative evidence of the benefits of implementing Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology limiting the scope to outpatient surgical processes in hospitals. Analysis showed significant estimated annual cost and time savings in carrying out patients’ surgical procedures with RFID technology implementation for the outpatient surgery processes in a hospital. This is largely due to elimination of both the non-value added activities of locating supplies and equipment and also the elimination of the “return” loop created by preventable post-operative infections. Several poka-yokes developed using RFID technology were identified to eliminate those two issues, as well as, for improving the safety of the patient and cost effectiveness of the operation to ensure the success of the outpatient surgical process. Several poka-yokes developed using RFID technology were identified for improving the safety of the patient and cost effectiveness of the operation to ensure the success of the outpatient surgical process

M-health review: joining up healthcare in a wireless world

In recent years, there has been a huge increase in the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) to deliver health and social care. This trend is bound to continue as providers (whether public or private) strive to deliver better care to more people under conditions of severe budgetary constraint

A Study of Technology Innovations and Applications in Transforming Safety and Security in Healthcare Facility Management

The increasing complexity of construction projects has transformed the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry through technology adoption over the last decade. But, Facility Management (FM) as an industry has been slow in technology adoption. Growing market competition, corporate demands and new ways of attracting clients for owners are compelling FM professionals to be more efficient. This requirement is driving technology adoption by FM professionals. This study identifies technologies adopted by Healthcare Facility Management (HFM) professionals for improving safety and security of users that have capabilities and conceived and/or developed applications that can or in some cases are at present used in HFM. Simultaneously, it also looks into potentials and capabilities of a handful of other technologies in further improving safety and security. Using Literature-Based Discovery (LBD), the technology applications and innovations aimed towards safety and security are discovered from the literature that falls within the purview of HFM to form a picture of how these technologies enhance the practice of FM. The study aims at detecting how technologies have contributed towards transforming user experience. Also, this study identifies existing technologies and innovation demands (knowledge and gaps in knowledge), a general understanding of technology, its use and capabilities, and its recognition by users and industry professionals (adoption/rejection). They serve to illustrate how and to what degree the technologies will come to be used in facility management. Technologies, as they mature, will come to be used by facility managers in similar functions and hypothetically, entirely new ones. One should create a better user experience tailored to the functionality demanded. It is important for facility managers to partner with technology companies presenting innovative solutions to create a platform that is tailored to user-specific needs. Acceptance of a unified process, together with input from users, facility managers, and an assessment of current technologies and new advances in practice are productive ways to develop technologies that drive user satisfaction. This paper works to illustrate a future vision of HFM based on these technologies. Healthcare facility managers will have a reference that assembles multiple technological proficiencies that can function in their practice going forward

A model on factors affecting nurses adoption of health information technology

Healthcare organisations are using Health Information Technology (HIT) to improve efficiency, reduce cost and reduce medical errors. This study focused on the factors that influence the acceptance of HIT among nurses in Saudi hospitals. This research used a 6 stage mixed-methods research approach. Literature was used to search for established models and frameworks of technology acceptance, and the many factors that could play a role. In the field study, the nature of practical HIT issues at the Prince Sultan Military Medical City (PSMMC) and the Heraa Hospital were studied, and combined with literature to create a HIT Implementation Issues Framework. The framework consolidates elements from the Technological, Organisational, Environmental and Human dimensions. The researcher participated in further PSMMC projects in the design and implementation of the new Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation System and the Nurses and Pharmacists’ Communication System. From the implementation experience, pertinent factors were added to the Technology Acceptance Model and the “Nurses Acceptance Model” was proposed. The proposed model has eleven independent parameters, two dependent parameters, as well as seven moderators of key relationships. A questionnaire with 71 entries was distributed to over 2800 nurses in 52 wards in PSMMC. SPSS was used for data screening and descriptive statistics. The SmartPLS software was used for analysis and testing of the proposed hypotheses. The findings refined the “Nurses Acceptance Model” and highlight the significance of User Involvement and Training. The “Nurses Acceptance Model” enhances the scientific understanding of variables that affect technology acceptance among nurses in Saudi hospitals. The HIT Implementation Issues Framework helps hospital decision makers to plan HIT projects to improve the likelihood of successful adoption