F. Zedda

Performance analysis of a healthcare supply chain for RFID-enabled process reengineering

This study is part of a project which aims to study innovative RFID-based management systems, to optimise logistics in a blood transfusion centre (BTC). In 2009, an analysis of transfusion processes (AS IS 2009) and criticalities was carried out and a RFID-based process reengineering was performed (TO BE 2009). After several technical and management changes in BTC, a further process analysis was carried out and a new model (AS IS 2013) was implemented. The aim of the study is to evaluate efficiency and safety levels of BTC at present, and to compare the models using a coherent methodological approach. A failure modes, effects and criticalities analysis (FMECA) was carried out, in order to highlight criticalities related to patient safety and ad hoc key performance indicators (KPI) were designed and calculated for the two as is models. This paper describes a significant step prior to the design of UHF RFID systems.

RFID technology for blood tracking: An experimental approach for benchmarking different devices

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the paper is to design a testing protocol to measure performances of RFID devices applied to blood supply chain, and to implement an experimental campaign in order to collect performance data. The protocol matches operational conditions in blood supply chain and is particularly tailored to some critical processes, which can benefit from RFID adoption. The paper thus strives at benchmarking performances of inlays, fixed and handheld RFID readers, when deployed in the blood supply chain processes. DESIGN, METHODOLOGY, APPROACH: The adopted testing protocol enables the assessment of performances of RFID devices in processes of the blood supply chain, since it has been developed peculiarly to emulate critical logistics processes. The testing protocol has been designed jointly with hospital personnel involved in every day operations on blood bags and tubes in order to improve processes, in terms of safety and reliability. The testing protocol has been applied to 3 inlays, 2 fixed readers, 1 mobile handheld in 3 logistics processes, all operating according to UHF EPC class 1 gen 2 protocols and ETSI regulations. We measured and compared read rates, accuracies and read times. FINDINGS: The results of the test give a direct insight of performances to be expected from different RFID devices when deployed in a real-world environment. Therefore, it is possible to give answers to how a specific piece of hardware —such as an inlay or a reader —performs, and how it can be effectively used to improve security of patients in healthcare. At the same time, researchers focusing on the business process reengineering of blood supply chain can assess the technical feasibility of the RFID-reengineered logistics processes in order to improve the safety of end users.

FMECA Modelling and Analysis in Blood Transfusion Chain

This paper describes the modelling and analysis of the processes and activities used in the Blood Transfusion Centre of Hospital Brotzu (Cagliari – Italy), via FMECA (Failure Modes Effects and Criticalities Analysis) method, in order to enhance patient safety and improve clinical risk management. The first part of the study consists on an analysis of the present blood transfusion chain processes (AS-IS), obtained by reverse engineering. Then a concise description of the FMECA methodology is presented. After the introduction of the reengineered process (TO-BE), developed via introduction of RFID technology, the results of simulation will be presented. For each activity of the two configurations studied (AS-IS and TO-BE) some performance indicators were evaluated, then a sensitivity analysis has been carried out to investigate the consistency of FMECA analysis. Finally follows the comparison of results between the simulation of actual process and the reengineered one.

EM level evaluation in indoor environment

In order to show that a given set of EM sources comply with national rules on exposition, a prediction model for EM propagation is needed. For indoor environment, the test presented her show that reflections and multipath can significantly affect the field level respect to the free-space situation, which sometimes can doubles.