BloodCenter of Wisconsin (BCW) today announced that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded a $1.4 million Small Business Technology Transfer grant to fund continued research into the deployment of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to enhance safety and reduce hospital costs related to the collection, manufacture and transfusion of blood products. The NIH grant allows the first-ever research into the potential clinical and financial benefits of RFID technology for automatic identification, tracking, and status monitoring of blood and blood products across the entire transfusion medicine supply chain.
Data from the Phase I research project, published earlier this month in the peer-reviewed Journal of Healthcare Information Management, demonstrated that RFID-enabled processes offer the potential for tangible improvements to productivity and safety, including reductions in morbidity and mortality among hospital-based patients receiving blood transfusions. Partners on the team include SysLogic, Inc., University of Wisconsin – Madison, Mississippi Blood Services, Carter BloodCare, Mississippi Baptist Health System and University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics.
RFID is an automatic identification method that relies on storing and remotely retrieving data using devices called RFID tags. RFID tags contain silicon chips and antennas that enable them to receive and respond to radio-frequency queries from RFID transceivers. This project aims to enhance the safety, quality, productivity and responsiveness of the nation’s blood supply through research, development and transfer of RFID technology. The targeted result will reduce production costs and blood transfusion errors by increasing efficiency and accuracy in material handling of blood.
“We are enthusiastic about continuing our RFID study on behalf of blood centers and hospital transfusion services everywhere,” said BCW Vice President and Chief Information Officer Rodeina Davis. “As this study will advance patient safety, reduce costs by increasing efficiency and streamline our processes, we are deeply gratified that the National Institutes of Health has funded our study through its completion.” Davis is also the Principal Investigator for the study.