I21 -- May 2008 -- Radio Frequency Identification

Intro: It's technology the retail industry and libraries have used for some time. Now, doctors at Mayo Clinic are using radio frequency identification to track and trace patient specimens as they go from the procedure room to the lab. Mayo research shows the technology is fast, efficient and helps prevent human errors.

IN THIS PROCEDURE ROOM, DR. MARK LARSON IS PERFORMING ONE OF THE MORE THAN 40,000 ENDOSCOPIES DONE AT MAYO CLINIC EVERY YEAR.

"WE'RE LOOKING FOR MICROSCOPIC EVIDENCE OF DYSPLAYSIA."

THAT MEANS DR, LARSON WILL TAKE SEVERAL TISSUE SAMPLES AND SEND THEM TO THE PATHOLOGY LAB FOR EVALUATION. TRADITIONALLY, NURSES WOULD WRITE ALL THE PATIENT INFORMATION ON LONG FORMS AND ON TINY SPECIMEN LABELS.

"EVERYTHING WAS HAND-WRITTEN."

THEN THEY'D ENTER IT INTO A COMPUTER AND SEND THE BOTTLES OFF TO PATHOLOGY WHERE THE HAND-WRITTEN INFO WOULD BE RE-ENTERED INTO ANOTHER COMPUTER BY A DIFFERENT PERSON. EASY TO SEE HOW ERRORS COULD HAPPEN.

"WE NEED A WAY TO ELIMINATE HUMAN ERROR AND MAKE IT AS CONCISE AS POSSIBLE."

THE WAY TO DO THAT, SAY DRS. JOHN SCHAFFNER AND SCHUYLER SANDERSON, IS RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION, OR RFID.

"THE TECHNOLOGY ALLOWS US TO OFFER A DIRECT COMMUNICATION PORTAL, IF YOU WILL, FROM THE ENDOSCOPIST DIRECTLY TO THE PATHOLOGIST WHO'S GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THAT CASE."

HERE'S HOW IT WORKS: BEFORE AND DURING A PROCEDURE, THE NURSE PUTS THE PATIENT INFORMATION INTO THE COMPUTER. IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS, THE DOCTOR AND NURSE WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THE INFORMATION IS ACCURATE. NEXT, THE SPECIMEN BOTTLES, EACH EQUIPPED WITH A RFID TAG ON THE BOTTOM, ARE PLACED ON A PAD AND PROGRAMMED. THEN THEY'RE OFF TO THE PATHOLOGY LAB WHERE TECHNICIANS PUT THE BOTTLES ON ANOTHER PAD. THE SYSTEM AUTOMATICALLY PULLS UP THE INFORMATION, WHICH INCLUDES NOTES FROM THE PROCEDURE THAT TELL THE PATHOLOGIST EXACTLY WHAT TO LOOK FOR. FAST. EFFICIENT.

"THERE'S LESS ROOM FOR ERRORS."

MAKING HEALTH CARE SAFER FOR PATIENTS.

FOR MEDICAL EDGE, I'M VIVIEN WILLIAMS.



Anchor tag: Right now, Mayo Clinic is using the RFID system for the GI/Colorectal surgery department only. They hope to expand the system for other departments as well.

In addition to making the system faster, more efficient and safer, RFID technology allows nurses to spend less time dealing with information and more time caring for patients.

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