RFID Tracks Surgical Tools, Assets at Ixtapaluca Hospital

Development and Operation of Hospital Infrastructure of Ixtapaluca (DOIHI), an organization that manages assets and tools at the Regional Specialty Hospital of Ixtapaluca (HRAEI), in Mexico, is preparing to use passive ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) RFID tags to track 11,000 surgical instruments, in order to ensure that none are misplaced before, during or after surgery. The deployment will follow a pilot involving the RFID-tagging of 500 tools. The RFID solution was provided by Mexican systems integrator HTK. The technology is also being used to track medical equipment, furnishings and other assets.