title: Benefits and Barriers of Implementation and Utilization of Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) Systems in Transfusion Medicine.
abstract: Radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology is used by hospital supply chains to track medical products and monitor inventories. Hospitals have also begun incorporating RFID technology as part of their transfusion processes. The purpose of this review was to analyze how healthcare organization supply chains can benefit from the utilization of RFID systems in transfusion service departments. The methodology for this study was a literature review following the steps of a systematic review with a total of 52 sources referenced. RFID technology is used to manage and track blood products from the initial donor phlebotomy to final disposition or product transfusion. RFID-enabled transfusion practices have successfully increased provider productivity and product quality through work-time reduction and error reduction. Findings of this research study suggest that RFID has provided improvements in quality of care and efficiency, while initial costs, security, and privacy appear to be the principal barriers to adoption.
authors.affiliation: Alberto Coustasse, DrPH, MD, MBA, MPH, is an Associate Professor of the Healthcare Program at Marshall University Graduate College of Business in South Charleston, WV.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coustasse
authors.affiliation: Brian Cunningham, MS is an Alumni of the Healthcare Program at Marshall University Graduate College of Business in South Charleston, WV.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.affiliation: Stacie Deslich, MS is an Alumni of the Healthcare Program at Marshall University Graduate College of Business in South Charleston, WV.
authors.forename: Stacie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Deslich
authors.affiliation: Eric Willson, MBA, MHR, MS is an Alumni of the Healthcare Program at Marshall University Graduate College of Business in South Charleston, WV.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Willson
authors.affiliation: Pamela Meadows is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Lab Sciences at the Health Profession School, in Marshall University in Huntington, WV.
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Meadows
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008421:Materials Management, Hospital / Q000379:methods*; D057233:Radio Frequency Identification Device / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D064826:Transfusion Medicine / Q000379:methods*
keywords: benefits, barriers; blood bank; radio-frequency identification (RFID); supply chain; transfusion services