Handheld Reader for RFID Project with US Medical Center

Late last year and after a successful pilot test, the largest public hospital in the Bronx with more than 800 beds began fitting all patients with RFID enabled wristbands upon admission. The wristbands are embedded with an RFID integrated circuit containing the medical history and unique number for each patient, allowing the hospital staff to identify patients almost instantly and get online access to a database secured by a PK infrastructure.
In contrast to barcode, RFID wristbands do not require direct access with the reader; they can be scanned through clothing and blankets. The hospital staff uses lightweight PDAs or tablet PCs with a RFID reader to read the data without disturbing the patient. As a result, care of patients has improved. Physicians and nurses can quickly and easily identify patients and can accurately and safely dispense the correct drug dosage at the correct time to the corresponding patient.

Siemens Business Services chose ACG's RF PC Handheld Reader, in the form of a Compact Flash card, as a key component in the total solution and success of the project, due to its reliability, flexibility and accuracy. The reader can be connected to most typical handheld devices and PCs via a standard CF slot or, via an adapter, to a PCMCIA slot. Furthermore, the reader closes a gap in the transmission and processing of the collected data, through integration of the upgraded mobile computer into standard wired or wireless networks. The bidirectional data transfer between local transponders and regional or even global database systems is made possible online.