A new study from Bearing Point Inc. and the National Alliance for Health Information Technology indicates that RFID is making inroads in large healthcare organizations, with the technology being used in areas including medical equipment tracking using real-time location systems; patient safety systems such as for identification and medication administration; patient flow management; access control and security; supply chain systems; and smart shelving. In addition, spending for RFID deployments are expected to increase dramatically by 2007, with the major factor being that the technology will help organizations better achieve their business goals.
 
Key findings from the study include:

• Improvement to patient safety was cited as the top benefit for RFID by nearly 70 percent of respondents, with improved patient flow and general productivity ranking second, each cited by 48 percent of respondents as "very important."

• Less than 20 percent of respondents plan to spend more than $250,000 on RFID in 2006 and 53 percent plan no spending at all. But nearly 74 percent anticipate investment in RFID by 2007 and nearly 39 percent anticipate spending $250,000 or more on the technology in 2007 and 2008.

• Large organizations plan to spend considerably more — between $1 million to $5 million on RFID in 2007-2008.

• 60 percent of respondents said they have delayed some RFID activities while they wait for industry or government guidance on standards.