The impact of RFID technology in hospital drug management: An economic and qualitative assessment

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Bevilacqua, M. | Ciarapica, F.E. | Mazzuto, G. | Paciarotti, C.

Affiliations: DIISM, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy

Note: [] Corresponding author: M. Bevilacqua, DIISM, Università Politecnica delle Marche, via Brecce Bianche, 60131, Ancona, Italy. E-mail: m.bevilacqua@univpm.it

Abstract: The successful implementation of any innovation requires an understanding of its benefits and costs. This study examines the changes in costs and benefits associated with technology process innovation adoption as the innovation diffuses across healthcare field. Using RFID as an exemplar technology, the study shows the importance of benefits and costs associated with technological process innovation. The analysed case study provides the order of magnitude of the problems that can be solved with the introduction of the new system and it shows the information provided as output by the informatics system associated. For technology managers in general, the study has identified the profile of costs and benefits associated with technology adoption, and offered some indication of how this profile changes depending on the stage of technology evolution. This study proposed the implementation of a drug management system based on RFID technology. The study also revealed as the adoption of RFID technology allows perfect traceability of the drug throughout the system. In addition, this technology greatly reduces the action of operators in the operations of the management and administration and therefore the occurrence of errors.

Keywords: RFID technology, healthcare, drug management, pharmaceutical supply chain

DOI: 10.3233/RFT-130045

Journal: International Journal of RF Technologies, vol. 4, no. 3-4, pp. 181-208, 2013