When it comes to technology’s vast potential in the world of healthcare, it’s reassuring to see how much it can offer in terms of practical, life-saving help. Beyond the complex equipment and devices used in MRIs, X-ray equipment, scanners and ventilators, more “straightforward” tech is being put to use to support “at-home” treatment. For instance, technology that could assist the 50 percent of patients the WHO estimates are unable to complete or follow their treatment guidelines. Innovations using NFC and RFID technologies form a prescription for success.
“Complete this course of medication” – the banner headline of every antibiotic prescription, reminding us that if we don’t take all our meds, we’re not going to get better. This is patient adherence, and half the population isn’t at it—estimates as far back as as far back as 2012 show non-adherence costs the U.S. healthcare system up to USD $300 B annually. Thankfully, a range of smartphone therapy compliance apps have been developed to prompt the patient when the next dose is due and NFC tags in the tablet blister pack can register tablet use.
It’s not just compliance and adherence that NFC and RFID can help with, but something even more straightforward and vital: information. The insert with medication is often difficult to read, condensed and, infuriatingly, inside the package itself. So, how about an NFC tag on the package that can steer us to a website with clear directions, warnings or instructions? Sounds like just what the doctor ordered, right?
Another area where NFC can be of significant help is in wound healing. If you’ve ever taken off a bandage “just to check” and then had to reapply the dressing because the wound wasn’t as healed as you’d hoped, then this use case is for you. It’s an NTAG® SmartSensor tag inside the dressing to detect changes in temperature and moisture. Rather than opening the dressing to check (and thereby risking re-infection), a smartphone tap on the dressing will give an accurate progress report.
Whether catheter bags for outgoing fluid or saline drips for ingoing, the liquid levels of medical bags can be checked and fitted with sensors that indicate when they’re full or empty. This can help medical staff to attend to patient needs in a timely manner. NFC tags can also be used in conjunction with disposable accessories, such as tubing kits and injection cartridges. Alongside an NFC-enabled smartphone, this can help eliminate the chance of mistakes or incorrect use of equipment, which can be tracked easily with UHF RAIN RFID technology for inventory management from production to final use.
An NFC-enabled temperature logging tag is useful for tracking shipment and storage data of temperature-sensitive medicine, such as insulin and vaccines. Using a smartphone, patients and caregivers can easily access a medication's temperature history, enabling them to identify any issues that could impact the potency. NFC tags embedded into the packaging of pharmaceutical products enable tracking throughout each step of the distribution process, making counterfeit identification more straightforward. In conjunction with the tracking functionality, electronic seals on the package lids will safeguard against potential theft. UHF RAIN RFID technology provides real-time information on what is in stock and where it's located for inventory management. Easier access to expiration information means that stock can be allocated more efficiently, leading to less waste. It also opens up opportunities for pay-as-you-use business models. Hospitals don't need to make large up-front investments in pharmaceutical products but can pay upon consumption instead.
Technologies such as NFC and RFID can provide tangible benefits to healthcare professionals, caregivers and patients. These technologies can improve patient care and treatment adherence by reminding patients when to take their medicines, monitoring dressings for environmental factors and recording usage. This is particularly true for patients with chronic conditions who prefer to deal with their illness in the comfort of their own home. The pharmaceutical suppliers and manufacturers can also benefit from improved environmental and condition monitoring across the whole supply and logistics chain.
Explore NXP UCODE RAIN RFID solutions.
Learn more about NXP NFC solutions.
Watch a video on our NTAG SmartSensor healthcare solutions.
Stefan De Troch's career spans a range of innovations and new product development, first as researcher, later as development manager and now as new business development manager. For more than three years, Stefan has examined volume applications for healthcare, which resulted in the smart pharma program where new products are introduced for cold chain monitoring and therapy adherence. When Stefan is not working, he enjoys dining, hiking and cooking for his family.
