RFID in Healthcare: No Future?

Has RFID lost momentum in the healthcare arena? You could say that, shrugged Jörg Schmidt, manager at Infineon Technologies, who presented a paper at RFID Europe 2008 on 1 October. Delayed implementation of California’s e-pedigree law, dampened enthusiasm at US FDA for RFID technology in pharma and med-tech applications, and seemingly fewer healthcare projects in the pipeline certainly give the impression that the technology’s best days are behind it. “RFID is no longer seen as the silver bullet in healthcare,” acknowledged Schmidt. But the technology has a clear future in that sector, he added. Industry just has to get beyond seeing it as a high-cost alternative to bar codes.

RFID technology can help improve processes and add value in a way that bar codes cannot, said Schmidt. It is not, however, a plug-and-play solution solution. Adopters need to develop custom solutions and a sound business plan for RFID to make sense. He cited use of the technology to optimize the warehousing and shipment of implants and process control as proof that the technology is alive and well. Key activator technology, which is well known by anyone who has a late model car, also has applications in healthcare, he added. The tag carries all authentication information, which is verified by a reader, and that can be very useful to match up patients and medical devices, said Schmidt. In fact, several million tags are currently used in this healthcare application, but it’s not widely known, he told conference attendees at Churchill College in Cambridge.