Computers in Nursing the Next

Computers in Nursing

The next ten years of nursing are going to be revolutionized by the use of wireless technologies that will streamline every process nurses, physicians and administrators rely on to serve patients. The use of real-time wireless sensing technologies as part of broader computer networks in hospitals, clinics and treatment centers will give nurses the most critical information they need to take care of patients faster and with greater accuracy than manual approaches today. Further, these real-time sensor technologies including Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) are already making it possible to monitor, manage and complete treatment plans for patients much more efficiently than has been possible in the past. Stankovic (2006) proposes a redefinition of database topologies and resulting approaches to redefining treatment processes. He also sees the use of real-time sensor technologies including RFID as the basis for integrating data sets for analysis with legacy and homegrown systems within hospitals and clinics, and discusses the many advantages of having a real-time sensor technology that can overcome the many obstructions and line-of-sight restrictions that make bar coding and other identification technologies unfeasible in medical applications. Dr. Stankovic sees the future of real-time sensor technologies being able to manage the tracking of cardiac and intensive care patients via vital signs recorded and quickly transmitted by sensors. In addition, database entries to track the entire history of patients' vital signs are updated using these real-time sensors.

Dr. Raj Jain's extensive work on the use of sensor and RFID-based technologies for streamlining medical processes is covered in the latest edition of his Survey Paper: Medical Applications of Wireless Networks published by Jain (2006) last year.

Dr. Jain's extensive expertise in networking is illustrated in the paper he has published on his website. Specifically the use of networking to provide real-time data and logistics-oriented information back to physicians, nurses, and office managers has significant productivity advantages. Dr. Jain mentions the applications of streamlining workflows, enhancing equipment tracking, better and more accurate patient location and tracking, and the use of RFID specifically for patient information retrieval during emergencies. To make these applications possible, Dr. Jain draws differences between Active and Passive RFID tags. In addition, there are two variations of Active RFID tags, called Active and Active Backscatter. Their characteristics are defined here as Jain (2006) defines them:

Active RFID Tags

Battery powered memory, radio & circuit

Tag transmits radio signal

High Read Range (300 feet)

Active Backscatter Tags

Battery powered memory and circuitry

Tag reflects radio signal from reader

Medium Read Range (10-50 feet)

Passive Backscatter Tags

Reader powered

Tag reflects radio signal from reader

Shorter Read Range (4 inches - 15 feet)

In other work completed by Jain (2006) he has defined the range of RFID tags, comparing their data capacity, write/read functionality, programmability and applications.

Figure 2: Comparing RFID Tags and their Use

It's important to note that the majority of RFID tags can be programmed by the user - a critical component in the development of patient-based strategies around RFID and the reason healthcare service providers are focused on this technology and its implications for redefining their entire treatment programs and treatment value chains.

Figure 3 provides a schematic that defines how RFID works. Tags communicate with antennas specifically developed to pick up their pre-defined radio frequency and in turn communicate tag content and status back to a host computer. Once the data is transferred back to the host computer, databases are used for tracking and managing patient data.

Figure 3: Exploring How RFID Works