The Adoption and Implementation of RFID Technologies in Healthcare: A Literature Review

Publication Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

2012

Abstract

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology not only offers tracking capability to locate equipment, supplies and people in real time, but also provides efficient and accurate access to medical data for health professionals. However, the reality of RFID adoption in healthcare is far behind earlier expectation. This study reviews literature on the use of RFID in healthcare/hospitals following a formal innovation-decision framework. We aim to identify the common applications, potential benefits, barriers, and critical success factors. Our study facilitates quick assessment and provides guidance for researchers and practitioners in adopting RFID in medical arenas. Many earlier adopters in healthcare found RFID to be functional and useful in such areas as asset tracking and patient identification. Major barriers to adoption include technological limitations, interference concerns, prohibitive costs, lack of global standards and privacy concerns. Better designed RFID systems with low cost and privacy issues addressed are needed to increase acceptance of RFID in healthcare.

Keywords

RFID, Healthcare, Adoption, Literature review, Critical success factors

Discipline

Computer Sciences | Health and Medical Administration

Research Areas

Information Systems and Management

Publication

Journal of Medical Systems

Volume

36

Issue

6

First Page

3507

Last Page

3525

ISSN

0148-5598

Identifier

10.1007/s10916-011-9789-8

Publisher

Springer Verlag

Additional URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10916-011-9789-8

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