A model for implementing Radio Frequency Identification technology in Hospitals A Case study: Surgery Wards in Firouzgar hospital

Efforts to enhance health care services have been an inevitable issue from long time ago, and significant technology-driven changes in industries have far-reaching effects on the healthcare system. Besides technical feasibility of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, measurement and evaluation of cost effectiveness and performance of this technology are also noteworthy. This research has been conducted to develop a model for implementing RFID technology in hospitals. The population studied consisted of managers and personnel randomly selected from surgery wards at Firouzgar Hospital in Tehran. The instrument of the study was a researcher-made questionnaire with three sections: acceptance of RFID in enhancing health care services, effective aspects of using this technology, and challenges of its implementation in hospitals. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS at descriptive and inferential levels. Effective elements in implementing RFID technology were: acceptance of this technology in enhancing health care services, online access to patients’ health records, lack of confidence in using the technology, preference for maintaining the conventional situation, and personnel resistance. There was a close relationship between personnel resistance and a perceived lack of confidence in using RFID technology. The main challenge in implementing new technologies such as RFID seems to be cost impacts and justifications of benefit.