Custom active RFId solution for children tracking and identifying in a resuscitation ward

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Healthcare Technology
• Patient Monitoring Systems

Background:

• Pediatric critical care wards present unique challenges for patient tracking due to varying patient conditions and complex hospital layouts.
• Accurate and real-time patient identification is crucial for safety and efficient care delivery in high-acuity settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and present an active Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system tailored for patient tracking and identification within a children's critical care ward.
• To address the specific constraints and requirements of a pediatric critical care environment.

Main Methods:

• The system utilizes an active RFID technology for patient tracking.
• It comprises five distinct hardware components integrated with custom-designed tracking software.
• Development considered patient variability (age, cognitive state) and hospital architectural factors.

Main Results:

• A functional active RFID system was designed and realized.
• The system is capable of tracking and identifying patients within the critical care setting.
• The solution is adaptable to diverse environmental and patient-specific constraints.

Conclusions:

• The developed active RFID system offers a viable solution for patient tracking in pediatric critical care.
• The system's design accommodates the complexities of the target environment, enhancing patient safety and management.
• Further implementation and validation are suggested for broader clinical adoption.