RFID-based wireless medical care

1 Introduction

Due to limitations of technology and objective conditions, various measures adopted by Hospitals for a long time have not been able to effectively reduce the occurrence of medical errors. In addition to having a bad impact on the reputation of medical institutions, medical errors also cause irreparable losses to patients and huge economic losses.

Patients need to go through three steps from seeing a doctor to receiving treatment: the doctor checks the patient and makes a preliminary diagnosis and issues a medical order, the nurse transfers the medical order to the infusion or treatment card and prepares it for execution, and the nurse implements the treatment plan.

Each step of these 3 links is crucial. There cannot be any negligence, otherwise medical errors will occur. Errors in medical order information can be reflected in hospital information systems, and most of these errors can be discovered and corrected before nurses execute the order.

However, currently, medical orders are an open-loop process from issuance to execution. Medical orders issued by doctors are well-documented in the information system, but there is no objective and real-time record of who executes the medical orders and when. The identity of the patient is unknown. The verification method is also too simple. The traditional "three checks and seven pairs" method is not ideal to implement, and there is a hidden danger of medical errors. Medical errors such as taking the wrong medicine, giving the wrong injection, and even opening the wrong knife often occur.

With the development of wireless network technology and radio frequency identification technology (RFID), combining the two can effectively prevent and avoid medical errors.

Through the support of wireless network technology, and on this basis, combined with RFID technology, real-time inspection and confirmation of every step in the execution of medical orders can be achieved, and the unique identification of patient identity, medicines, blood bags, etc. can be completed, which is very important to ensure that patients Safe and effective improvement of medical quality and reduction of medical errors will play a huge role

This article implements a wireless nursing information system based on RFID design. By deploying a wireless network in the ward, patients wear RFID tags, and RFID tags are attached to medicines and blood bags. Nurses can directly collect and enter patient information through PDA handheld computers, such as : Who will carry out the doctor's orders, when will they be carried out, the patient's physiological indicators, nursing conditions (medication taking, number of temperature measurements, number of diaper changes, number of feedings), etc., connected to IP - PH0NE has a calling function, which can effectively ensure that hospital staff respond to questions at any time Patients are identified quickly and accurately.

The patient label tape can also prevent it from being replaced or removed at will, ensuring the uniqueness and accuracy of the label object. This system can effectively realize closed-loop control of information throughout the entire process of medical order execution, prevent and avoid the occurrence of medical errors, thereby ensuring patient safety.

2 Introduction to RFlD technology

RFID (Radio Frequencv Identification) is radio frequency identification. It uses space electromagnetic induction or electromagnetic propagation to communicate, and realizes energy transfer and data transmission according to timing relationships within the communication link, thereby achieving non-contact target identification and tracking.

The basic working method of the RFID system is to install the RFID tag on the identified object (stick, insert, wear, implant, etc.), and when the identified object enters the reading range of the RFID Reader. A wireless communication link is established between the tag and the reader.

The tag sends its own information, such as tag number and tag storage data, to the reader. The reader receives and decodes this information, and then sends it to the background computer for processing, thereby completing the entire information processing process.

RFID does not require a wired reader, and the RFID tag has another function, which allows the information on the tag to be updated.

The RFID reader can scan multiple label tapes at the same time, and each barcode must be read one by one by the corresponding barcode scanner; linear barcodes can only hold 10 to 20 character data.

In contrast, RFID readers are not limited by storage capacity and can Store thousands of characters of data: In addition, RFID tag tapes can be wiped with alcohol, effectively avoiding use in humid environments or blood contamination and wear. In other cases, the barcode cannot be read and loses its function, which is more suitable for applications in the medical industry.

The working environment of the hospital's digital RFID-based wireless nursing information system is shown in Figure 1. A wireless LAN is deployed in the ward, and wireless APs (Access Points) are deployed according to the PDA working range. The patient wears an RFID tag, and the nurse carries a PDA with an RFID reading function to exchange information with the HlS through the wireless network.

The nurse determines the patient's identity based on the patient's label, and at the same time confirms the medicine when executing the medical order, and enters who will execute the medical order, when the medical order will be executed, and the patient's physical data through the PDA into the HIS. At the same time, an Access Control system is installed in the ward so that patients entering and exiting the ward can be automatically reflected on the nurse station for easy management.

3.2 Overall structure of the system

The system running environment is Windows Mobile Svstem 5.0. A CF card-type RFID reader is installed on the PDA, and the data on the tag is transmitted to the nursing information system through the driver to realize the uniqueness confirmation of patients and drugs. The nursing information system connects to the HLS database through the 0racle0DBC driver to realize data interaction, and the link layer is implemented through the wireless network.

The nursing information system software consists of patient management, drug management, doctor order processing, data management, knowledge base query and call modules. The overall structure of the RFID-based wireless nursing information system is shown in Figure 2.

3.3 Functional design

Wireless nursing information system has the following functions

(1) Ability to scan RFID tags to uniquely determine patient identity and information corresponding to medicines.

(2) Be able to complete the patient's admission, discharge, transfer, department transfer, bed change and corresponding cancellation operations, and be able to query the patient's flow situation.

(3) Enter and query laboratory test orders, enter patient physical information (such as blood pressure, body temperature, pulse, etc.), enter nursing information and diagnostic information on the home page of the medical record, etc.

(4) Be able to complete the input, proofreading, invalidation and other operations of medical orders, enter medical order pricing items, realize query and processing according to the patient's medical orders, and realize the entry of medicines.

(5) Implement the patient call module and WiFi-based IP-PHONE function to facilitate information interaction between caregivers.

(6) Realize knowledge base query and provide nursing staff with the best channel for accurate, fast, convenient and flexible access to nursing knowledge and technology, which can meet the knowledge needs of the majority of nursing staff and thus better serve patients' health.

(7) Data management provides data backup and synchronization functions to ensure data security.

4 Implementation of wireless nursing information system based on RFID

4.1 Hardware system implementation

The hardware system of the RFID-based wireless nursing system mainly includes the following four parts:

(1) CF card type RF1D tag reader, model is Compact Flash ReaderKD8, supports IS014443A(B), IS0 l5693 standards;

(2) Handheld computer PDA, model HP iPAQ hx249Oc, operating environment Windows M0bile 5.0:

(3) Wireless access point AP, model Gigabyte GN-A1 G, protocol is IEEE 8O2.118O2.11b:

(4) RFID label printer, model Intellitag PM4i, operating frequency 1356 MHz, supports IS0 15693 standard.

4.2 Software system implementation

The software implementation of wireless nursing system based on RFID includes database and application software implementation. The database directly applies the relevant tables in the "Military Health No. 1" HIS database, including patient master index, doctor's order list, price list, etc. The tables that need to be added are the comparison table between the RFID tag and the patient ID number in the HIS database, the comparison table between the drug RF1D tag and the doctor's order, etc.

The application software uses Microsoft.Net Framework 3.5 SDK. The development language is C#. The development environment is Micmsoff visual Studio 2008. The Sman Device CAB Proiect template is used. The software process is shown in Figure 3.

First log in and select functions. Then complete the monitoring of the entire process of doctor's order execution according to the selected module, or choose the IP-PHONE function based on WiFi. If you want to implement information query, enter the nursing knowledge expert system. After all operations are finally completed, log out of the system.

5 Conclusion

This article implements a wireless nursing information system based on RFID, achieving the correct identification of patient identities and drugs, realizing the closed-loop execution of medical orders, and effectively preventing and avoiding the occurrence of medical errors. The next step of research should focus on solving the wireless network security in the hospital as well as the information security of RFID itself and the protection of patient privacy data.