A German hospital, the Klinikum Saarbrücken, has launched a pilot project for patient identification based on RFID (Radio Frequency Identification). The project, which covers some 1,000 patients and is being run in collaboration with technology partners Siemens Business Services, Intel and Fujitsu Siemens Computers, aims to provide easier access to patient data. At the same time, deployment of the latest IT and RFID technology is expected to help improve safety in drug dosage and administration. In future, patients admitted to the Klinikum Saarbrücken will be given a wristband with an integrated RFID chip containing their patient number. Doctors and nursing staff can read the number using tablet PCs and PDAs and thereby identify the patient in seconds. This identification enables authorised persons to access a protected database containing the patient's data, including details of any drugs to be administered and the correct dosages, online via a WLAN. Unauthorised access is prevented using the latest encryption technology.

The overall technical equipment for the RFID solution includes notebooks from Fujitsu Siemens Computers for accessing the patient system, as well as Pocket Loox PDAs and Stylistic Tablet PCs with Intel Centrino. A WLAN infrastructure is also installed.

The patients taking part in the pilot project can also call up their own medical information via information terminals. Such information might include blood pressure levels, weight, and treatment or discharge dates, for example. They can also find out about the diagnosed condition and the standard treatments.

www.siemens.com/sbs