Asset Tracking | RFID in Ambulance Service

One ambulance services provider in Brazil has deployed a radio frequency identification (RFID) solution to track assets and improve inventory management. 



The solution includes passive ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) tags applied to medical-related items, Chainway handheld RFID readers to capture the ID number encoded to those tags, and software platform residing on central server that stores data indicating which items are in which vehicle and when they were serviced. 

The company offers 24/7 emergency and transportation services. Each vehicle is stocked with tens of medications, as well as a specific set of medical tools and equipment for use in treating patients until they reach a hospital. Medications and critical gear, such as resuscitators, ventilators, stretchers, cardiac monitors, IV pumps, wheelchairs, etc., are attached with UHF RFID tags. Employees use 

Chainway handheld RFID readers to identify every item, and to send that information to the central database via GPRS. The company manager will know if some essential tools are missing from a vehicle, if a particular medication is near or past its expiry date, and if a critical equipment is near its maintenance schedule. 

At every shift change, when a new ambulance crew comes on duty, workers must perform a full inventory check to verify equipment on each vehicle. Instead of performing a manual inspection in the past, employees now use Chainway handheld RFID readers to take inventory, which has reduced the time to verify equipment on each vehicle from one to two hours, to just 2 minutes. Time is money in emergency transportation, and Chainway handheld computer is a huge time saver.

Moreover, the Global Positioning System (GPS) of Chainway handheld RFID reader locates the real-time location of the ambulance and plans the shortest route to the hospital of destination. The fleet’s movement is updated to the company’s back-end server as well as the hospital’s management system. If any accident happens, the company will know where the fleet is. Real-time fleet movement also enables the hospital to get more prepared to receive the patient. 

Since deploying RFID technology and high-performance Chainway handheld RFID reader, the emergency company has greatly reduced the time it takes to inspect vehicles and has got a better handle on its overall inventory control management, including ensuring it has essential supplies and the supplies are in good condition when needed. Furthermore, the firm is able to put ambulances back on the road much more quickly, which means it can provide better ambulance service to the community.