Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), or as it is also known as, Dedicated Short Range Communication (DSRC), is a technology that helps track an animal, person, or object. It does this by using a radio signal to locate what it is searching for. Unlike a barcode, it does not require direct contact or light-of-sign scanning.
There are three components in a RFID system; an antenna, transceiver and a transponder. The antenna sends out a radio frequency wave that is picked up by the transponder which sends back a signal. An example could a warehouse that wants to keep track of how boxes are in it. Each box will have a tag on it that has a transponder on it. An antenna will send out a radio wave that will activate the transponder on the tag to send a signal back. The transceiver will then receive this signal, and then a computer will not only count how many boxes respond, but where each box is in the warehouse.
This technology is being used in Transfusion Medicine. Of all the disciplines in Medical Laboratory Science, Transfusion Medicine is the only one where the end result (a blood product) will be given to the patient. Sometimes a transfusion reaction can occur from the blood product can cause a reaction to the patient, some of the most serious as a result of improper collection, processing or administration.
In any laboratory procedure, it is broken up into three main stages, pre-analytical, analytical, and post analytical.
In the pre-analytical stage, it is the proper collection of the specimen. This stage relies on properly identifying the patient and collecting the right specimens. If a three unit crossmatch is ordered for Mr. John Smith in Room 309, collecting a specimen from Mr. Jon Smythe of Room 903 will cause more harm then good. If Mr. Smythe in Room 903 needs a CBC, collecting a throat swab would be useless.
How RFID helps in the pre-analytical stage is that the person collecting the specimen receives a Transfusion Request Form (TRF) which then produces a label with a tag on it. At the patient’s bedside, the phlebotomist uses an RFID reader that confirms their ID from a tag on their ID bracelet. After the sample is collected and the label is put on it, it will then be scanned generating an electronic signature and updating the status of the specimen collection. The specimen will then be brought to the lab for testing.
At the analytical stage, the specimens will be processed, and RFID will signal whether or not the blood products are compatible with the patient.
In the post analytical stage, when the RN transports the blood product, one of two things can happen once it is transported to the ward. One, it can be transfused immediately, or something occurs that postpone transfusion. What happens to that blood product, for example a unit of blood? Packed red cells cannot stay out of a fridge longer than 30 minutes before transfusion. If the RN can document that the unit is put in a suitable fridge on the ward within 30 minutes, the unit does not have to be returned to the lab, and it can be used later. RFID allows the RN this option. While RFID cannot measure temperature, it can measure that the unit is put in the fridge, and for how long.
If there is no delay, RFID can be used to confirm that the blood product is the correct one the patient is to receive. This is done by using the RFID reader to read the tag on the patient’s armband and the tag on the unit. A mismatch will sound an alarm and prevent a mistake.
RFID has potential cost savings, especially those associated with Risk Management. Each hospital will have to determine if their organization would benefit from this technology. Currently, this system is not being used by the Canadian Blood Services, although some hospitals in the U.S. are. There is the argument that common sense and following standard operating procedures negate any reason for using RFID.
But then again that was what they said about computers and barcodes 15 years ago.
Showing posts with label Transfusion Medicine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Transfusion Medicine. Show all posts
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Monday, August 3, 2009
What exactly is Medical Laboratory Technology
What exactly is Medical Laboratory Technology? It’s a branch of Pathology, the medical specialty that studies disease. There are five major disciplines, Clinical Chemistry, Hematology, Medical Microbiology, Histology and Transfusion Medicine. So how do these relate to you, the patient?
Disclaimer: The following is only an example and is entirely fictional. Information given cannot be used to take the place of a licensed medical doctor’s care.
Why was that disclaimer written? As soon as the term ‘sore throat’ is used, the reader will instantly swallow to make sure that their throat is fine. Everyone has had this complaint at least once, and it is common reason to see your doctor.
What does the doctor do? Looks down the patient’s throat, and usually sticks a swab down there to give the patient’s gagging reflex a workout. Where does the swab go? To the lab, to the Microbiology department where the lab tech will analyze it to determine if:
1) There is an infection present
2) What is causing it
So after the swab is analyzed the lab it is determined that the sore throat is not caused by an infection. What’s next? The physician notices a lump in the throat and decides that a biopsy or tissue sample of it needs to be taken. After surgery, the specimen is sent to the lab to the Histology department.
Histology is the study of tissues. The lab techs in this department process the tissue specimen and cut into slices thinner than human hair, put them on glass slides, and then stain them for the pathologist to examine microscopically. After looking at the slides, the diagnosis comes back as cancer of the throat.
Once again I have to emphasize this is only a fictionalized example. The care of a sore throat is best done by a licensed healthcare professional.
Of course the best treatment is surgery to remove the tumor, and since there is a chance of bleeding, the surgeon will need to have some units of blood on hand. The lab techs in Transfusion Medicine will be responsible to make sure there are safe blood products available for this scenario.
So after surgery, the tumor has been removed and the next course of treatment is chemotherapy. Hematology, the study of blood cells, will be used to make sure that the body’s immune system can tolerate this treatment, while Clinical Chemistry will ensure your organs will be able to handle it as well.
Once again, I cannot stress it enough, if you have a sore throat, please see your doctor about it. Please do not tell him that the Labvocate told you it is cancer.
So to review, the five disciplines of Medical Laboratory Technology are:
1) Hematology
2) Clinical Chemistry
3) Transfusion Medicine
4) Microbiology
5) Histology
I have worked in all of them, and each one has its advantages and disadvantages. But no matter what department, I always remember what was drilled into our heads by our instructors:
“Treat each specimen as if it’s from someone important to you.”
Thank you for taking the time to read my posting. I look forward to your thoughts and comments..
Regards,
Mark Hawkins
Disclaimer: The following is only an example and is entirely fictional. Information given cannot be used to take the place of a licensed medical doctor’s care.
Why was that disclaimer written? As soon as the term ‘sore throat’ is used, the reader will instantly swallow to make sure that their throat is fine. Everyone has had this complaint at least once, and it is common reason to see your doctor.
What does the doctor do? Looks down the patient’s throat, and usually sticks a swab down there to give the patient’s gagging reflex a workout. Where does the swab go? To the lab, to the Microbiology department where the lab tech will analyze it to determine if:
1) There is an infection present
2) What is causing it
So after the swab is analyzed the lab it is determined that the sore throat is not caused by an infection. What’s next? The physician notices a lump in the throat and decides that a biopsy or tissue sample of it needs to be taken. After surgery, the specimen is sent to the lab to the Histology department.
Histology is the study of tissues. The lab techs in this department process the tissue specimen and cut into slices thinner than human hair, put them on glass slides, and then stain them for the pathologist to examine microscopically. After looking at the slides, the diagnosis comes back as cancer of the throat.
Once again I have to emphasize this is only a fictionalized example. The care of a sore throat is best done by a licensed healthcare professional.
Of course the best treatment is surgery to remove the tumor, and since there is a chance of bleeding, the surgeon will need to have some units of blood on hand. The lab techs in Transfusion Medicine will be responsible to make sure there are safe blood products available for this scenario.
So after surgery, the tumor has been removed and the next course of treatment is chemotherapy. Hematology, the study of blood cells, will be used to make sure that the body’s immune system can tolerate this treatment, while Clinical Chemistry will ensure your organs will be able to handle it as well.
Once again, I cannot stress it enough, if you have a sore throat, please see your doctor about it. Please do not tell him that the Labvocate told you it is cancer.
So to review, the five disciplines of Medical Laboratory Technology are:
1) Hematology
2) Clinical Chemistry
3) Transfusion Medicine
4) Microbiology
5) Histology
I have worked in all of them, and each one has its advantages and disadvantages. But no matter what department, I always remember what was drilled into our heads by our instructors:
“Treat each specimen as if it’s from someone important to you.”
Thank you for taking the time to read my posting. I look forward to your thoughts and comments..
Regards,
Mark Hawkins
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