Transcript How Radio Frequency Identification Improves Pharmacy Efficiency

Presented by: BeeLinda L. Temple CPhT
This presentation has no affiliation
with any specific RFID brand.

To learn how Jefferson Regional Medical Center (JRMC)
uses Radio Frequency Identification technology to
improve:
◦ Patient safety
◦ Pharmacy staff performance
◦ Inventory management
 Expired medications
 Recalls
 Drug shortages


Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)- A technology that
incorporates the use of electromagnetics to uniquely
identify an object, animal, or person.
Radio Frequency Identification System- A system
consisting of three components: an antenna and
transceiver (often combined into one reader) and a
transponder (the tag). The antenna uses radio
frequency waves to transmit a signal that activates the
transponder. When activated, the tag transmits data
back to the antenna.


Radio Frequency Identification Reader (RFID Scanner)- A
device used to gather information from an RFID tag,
which is then used to track individual objects. Radio
waves are used to transfer data from the tag to a
reader.
Radio Frequency Identification Chip (RFID tag) – It is a
tag, label, or card that can exchange data with a reader
using radio frequency signals. It usually has a built-in
antenna and an integrated circuit.

Tracking:
◦
◦
◦
◦
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Medications
Medical equipment
Employees
Patients
Pharmacy inventory control
Combating counterfeit drugs
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Safety
Timely Restocking of:
◦ Crash cart trays
◦ Operating Room trays
◦ Rapid Sequence Intubation boxes
Crash Cart Trays
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
A pharmacy technician visually checked and wrote down the
missing medications in each tray.
A pharmacy technician then refilled the tray with the
appropriate missing medications.
A pharmacy technician visually checked and wrote down the
expiration dates for each medication to determine the earliest
date of expiration.
A pharmacy technician replaced the missing medications in
each tray.
A pharmacist then repeated the process to double check the
expiration date and to make sure that trays were filled
properly.
The tray was then wrapped up and placed back into the cart.
Operating Room Trays
1.
2.
3.
A pharmacy technician went to each OR suite with heavy
totes loaded with operating room medications.
The pharmacy technician would open the drawer and
visually inspect which medications were missing.
The pharmacy technician would then replace missing
medications with appropriate medications from tote (No
record was kept of what medications were replaced, had to
rely on anesthesia records to determine patient charges).

Process of tagging the medications (RFID chip)
1. Pull the medications to tag with the same lot number and
expiration date (Up to 50 items).
2. The pharmacist scans the barcode of the medications
with the barcode scanner connected to the RFID System to
pull in the drug. The pharmacist then enters the lot
number and expiration date into the system and prints off
the correct number of tags. These tags contain the RFID
chip.
3. These tags are then placed on the medications and stored
for later use.
All trays
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
A pharmacy technician cleans out any trash or used
medications in the tray.
A pharmacy technician places the tray into the RFID Scanner
and scans the tray to identify missing medications.
The pharmacy technician then prints out a sheet from the RFID
System that shows them what medications need to be
restocked and what medications the patient should be charged
for. However, anesthesia records are still used for OR charges.
A pharmacy technician then fills empty slots in the tray with
already tagged missing medications.
A pharmacy technician then places the tray into the RFID
Scanner again and scans the tray.
The pharmacy technician then prints out another sheet of all
medications in the tray that a pharmacist then double checks
for errors.
The tray is then wrapped up and placed back into the cart.

Faster process
◦ Allows pharmacy technician and pharmacist more time for
other duties
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Greater accuracy
Improves patient safety
◦ Reducing adverse events
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The report the system generates aids in the process of
managing shortages and recalls of medications
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Cost
Tags can fall off if not attached securely
Nurses may accidently tear tags off
RFID System cannot distinguish which medications have
been used
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RFID is used in healthcare for all of the
following except:
A.
B.
C.
D.
Tracking medications
Pharmacy inventory control
Reducing cost of medications
Combating counterfeit drugs
RFID Streamlines Refilling of Drug Trays. Pharmacy
Practice News.
Google. RFID Definitions.