Hospital RFID versus Wi-Fi Technologies

Posted on September 16, 2010 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

Understanding Wireless Communications and Inventory Tracking Systems

By Staff Reporters

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According to inventory tracking system expert David J. Piasecki, the two wireless technologies currently competing to provide hospitals with better systems for managing equipment inventories are: wireless-fidelity (WiFi) and active RFID. WiFi is the name of the popular wireless networking technology that uses radio waves to provide wireless high-speed Internet connections. The WiFi Alliance is the non-profit organization that owns WiFi (registered trademark) and the term specifically defines WiFi as any “wireless local area network products that are based on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers’s 802.11 standards.”  Yet, less than 5 percent of North American healthcare facilities are equipped with these real-time locating systems, so the market is currently up for grabs.

Wi-Fi Advantages/ Disadvantages

The advantage of WiFi-based real time locating systems (RTLSs) is that most hospitals already have WiFi networks in place, and many medical devices are equipped with WiFi functionality. Moreover, WiFi vendors such as Aeroscout, Ekahau, and PanGo market their products based on a standards-based non-proprietary functionality. And, development of the so-called “super Wi-Fi” is now on the horizon. The downside of WiFi systems is that hospitals will need to install additional access points to bring the needed functionality to existing networks.

RFID Advantages/ Disadvantages

On the other hand, RFID vendors such as RF Code and Radianse point to the wide application of RFID for asset tracking, and to the technology’s longevity in the industry. Still, RFID tags remain suspect because their ability to efficiently track DME may not be private or secure. Increasingly, WiFi seems more ubiquitous than RFID.

Assessment

Finally, of the three WiFi major vendors, only Ekahau makes a point of stressing that its inventory system is based only on WiFi and not RFID, so the issue isn’t clear cut.  Perhaps it will take both technologies to deploy for hospitals.

Conclusion

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RFID versus WiFi Hospital Inventory Tracking Systems

Posted on November 5, 2009 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

Understanding Competing Wireless Technologies

By Davd Piasecki, with

Hope Hetico; RN, MHA

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The two wireless technologies currently competing to provide hospitals with better systems for managing equipment inventories are (WiFi) and active RFID.

Wireless-Fidelity [WiFi]

WiFi is the name of the popular wireless networking technology that uses radio waves to provide wireless high-speed Internet connections. The WiFi Alliance is the non-profit organization that owns WiFi (registered trademark) and the term specifically defines WiFi as any “wireless local area network products that are based on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers’s 802.11 standards.”  Yet, less than 5 percent of North American healthcare facilities are equipped with these real-time locating systems, so the market is currently up for grabs.

WiFi Pros

The advantage of WiFi-based real time locating systems (RTLSs) is that most hospitals already have WiFi networks in place, and many medical devices are equipped with WiFi functionality. Moreover, WiFi vendors such as Aeroscout, Ekahau, and PanGo market their products based on a standards-based non-proprietary functionality. The downside of WiFi systems is that hospitals will need to install additional access points to bring the needed functionality to existing networks.

RFID Pros

On the other hand, RFID vendors such as RF Code and Radianse point to the wide application of RFID for asset tracking, and to the technology’s longevity in the industry. Still, RFID tags remain suspect because their ability to efficiently track DME may not be private or secure. Increasingly, WiFi seems more ubiquitous than RFID.

Finally, of the three WiFi major vendors, only Ekahau makes a point of stressing that its inventory system is based only on WiFi and not RFID, so the issue isn’t clear cut.  Perhaps it will take both technologies to deploy RTLSs for hospitals.

General Recommendations

As a general recommendation, RFID is not yet practical for most small to mid-sized healthcare entities or medical clinics looking to automate their inventory-related transactions (though it does work for other applications such as with returnable containers and asset tracking).

RFID Hype

Despite the hype over RFID, bar codes are not becoming obsolete and are still very effective at quickly and accurately identifying products, locations, and documents. Unless there exists an application where bar codes simply don’t work, or where RFID offers a significant advantage over bar codes, use bar codes. Even if an application that cries out for RFID exists, hospital material management administrators may want to consider waiting (if possible) as the cost of the technology comes down.

Both RFID and WFI Needed

According to Robert M. Wachter MD, Professor and Chief of the Division of Hospital Medicine and Associate Chairman of Department of Medicine, and Lynne and Marc Benioff Endowed Chair in Hospital Medicine, University of California at San Francisco, and Chief of the Medical Service at UCSF Medical Center [personal communication], both should be used.

Ultimately, of course, we do need both bar coding and RFIDs, and we need rigorous studies looking at what works and what doesn’t. But, you have to start somewhere. Even though the evidence continues to trail, based on what I know today, if I was a hospital ready to get into the IT game, I’d go with bar coding first. 

Assessment

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In the next few years, standards will be finalized, hardware prices will drop, software will become more readily available, and, more importantly, the bugs will be worked out of all these systems.   

Conclusion

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ADSL – DSL Primer for Physicians

Posted on May 8, 2009 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

Asynchronous Data Subscriber Line versus Digital Subscriber Loop

By Carol S. Miller; RN, MBAbiz-book20

Asynchronous Data Subscriber Lines

ADSL is a very fast digital line provided by the telephone company. If available in your area, the ADSL provides fast connections, but generally not as fast as cable. There are various choices, beginning around 256 kbps (about five to six times the speed of a fast modem) going up to 7 Mbps.  Prices begin around $60 per month (including Internet service). There is also a set-up charge and a card needs to be inserted in your computer.

Digital Subscriber Lines

DSL is a high-speed direct line that can be 20-100 times faster in communication over the modem, depending on the type selected. Prices for the DSL begin at approximately $30-$40 per month and that includes Internet access. In addition, there is a set-up charge and a network card will need to be installed into the computer. Office workstations can usually share DSL circuits over their existing local area network (LAN).

Internet Connection

To connect with the Internet, as a rule of thumb, the faster the better; therefore, the office should have at least 56 kbps.  DSL normally runs over the same line as a basic telephone voice circuit and provides Internet access from speeds of 384 kbps all the way up to 1.54 mbps (megabits per second). The advantage of this configuration is you not only have high-speed access to the Internet, your telephone is still free to make and receive calls at the same time.

Integrated Services Digital Network   

A digital telephone line that allows voice and data to be transmitted on the same line in a digital format – instead of analog – and at a relatively high speed, usually around 64 to 128 kbps.  When reviewing this service, make sure the ISP has an ISDN connection. If not, you will be charge more by both the telephone company and the ISP. Prices for the ISDN average around $300 plus, with an extra fee to install the telephone line and a monthly service charge of $25 to $100 plus to maintain.

Wireless Network (WiFi – 802.11b)

The biggest change to happen to computers in the last ten years has undoubtedly been the Internet. Close on its heels in importance may just be the adoption of the wireless network access.  Wireless Fidelity, or Wi-Fi, is now cost effective and available at the computer store.  It is no longer necessary to re-wire buildings with Category 5 wire to provide LAN connectivity and resource sharing to multiple computers. Wi-Fi, or IEE standard 802.11b, enables small offices to connect up to four computers to a single network for less than the cost of a single computer.  This means the days of multiple analog lines to offer Internet access to every computer, or a printer on every desktop, are going away. Now a single cable modem or DSL line and a centralized printer can service four users. This can save a small business hundreds of dollars a year.

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Limited Connectivity

For limited connectivity, computer stores are stocked with wireless vendor products that are cost effective, easy to install, and very robust that will push even the most cautious computer user to take the leap to wireless computing.  Not only does it make the initial cost to install a network cheaper than it has ever been before, it eliminates the cost to remodel or move computers within a building since instead of requiring data wiring at each proposed desktop all you need now is an electrical outlet to power the PC itself. 

Satellite

This is a more modern device. In the past, satellite connections were at 400K bps or fourteen times faster than the average modem.  As an example, a 2MB file would be downloaded in 30-40 seconds.  Benefits of the satellite connection are:  The connection is always on; it is reliable; there is a secure connection; office can have multiple e-mail addresses; the web space is free; and there is tech support coverage nationwide.  Costs include around $300 for the equipment, $150 plus to install the equipment, and around $30 to $50 per month for service.  Web site reference is satcast.com (DirecWay Satellite Dish).

Conclusion

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