Larger healthcare organisations are testing and adopting RFID systems at a far greater pace than the rest of the healthcare industry, according to a study from The National Alliance for Health Information Technology and consulting firm BearingPoint Inc.

     However, industry-wide spending on RFID is also poised to dramatically increase beginning in 2007, driven by senior executives who view the technology as critical to helping achieve their organisations'' business goals, especially improved patient safety. 116.30.142.201 This article is copyright 2005 UsingRFID.com.

     According to Jim Gallas, senior vice president of BearingPoint''s health services practice, "This survey illustrates that most healthcare executives believe RFID technologies are strategic to their business in a number of important aspects, from patient safety to operational improvement. Over the next 24 months, we expect healthcare organisations will move from the strategy and pilot phases they are in today toward first-stage implementations where there will be a strong opportunity for return on investment."

Main findings
     Key findings from the survey of more than 300 healthcare respondents, most from commercial and government healthcare providers, include:

 

     Improvement to patient safety was cited as the top benefit for RFID by nearly 70% of respondents, with improved patient flow and general productivity ranking second, each cited by 48% of respondents as "very important."
 

     80% of C-level respondents described RFID technologies as important or very important to their business strategies.
 
     30% of large organisations (those with annual IT budgets over US$100 million) have already deployed some RFID technology, compared to just 13% of smaller organisations.
 
     Less than 20% of respondents plan to spend more than US$250,000 on RFID in 2006 and 53% plan no spending at all. But nearly 74% anticipate investment in RFID by 2007 and nearly 39% anticipate spending US$250,000 or more on the technology in 2007 and 2008.
 
     Large organisations plan to spend considerably more - between US$1 million and US$5 million on RFID in 2007-2008.
 
     Cost is a chief barrier to adoption, with 57% saying a major hurdle is lack of available funding and 46% citing the cost of RFID tags and readers as a major issue.
 
     60% of respondents said they have delayed some RFID activities while they wait for industry or government guidance on standards.

     Rod Piechowski, vice president of technology leadership for the Alliance, explained: "Too many healthcare organisations are sitting on the sidelines, waiting for more direction on standards and privacy from the government. Meanwhile, the leaders in healthcare RFID have set their own policies for privacy, security and standards because they see RFID providing a strategic advantage in the marketplace."

Variety of uses
     The survey, conducted in September and October, also found that RFID technology is already finding many uses in healthcare organisations, including medical equipment tracking using real-time location systems; patient safety systems such as for identification and medication administration; patient flow management; access control and security; supply chain systems; and smart shelving.

     Nicholas Evans, director for BearingPoint''s Global RFID Solutions practice, along with Piechowski, will present the results of the RFID in Healthcare Survey in a webinar on Tuesday 6th December 2005 at 11.00am (EST). To register online, visit http://www.bearingpoint.com/RFIDinHealthcare. A full copy of the survey results will be provided for each participant.

 

 

 

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