Assessment of the Reliability of Active Radiofrequency Identification Technology for Patient Tracking in the Pediatric Emergency Department

Abstract

Radiofrequency identification (RFID) technology has been used in other emergency department settings but has not been assessed in a pediatric emergency department setting for its reliability in its application as a patient tracking system. The goal of this study was to assess the accuracy, precision, and reliability of the technology in a simulated pediatric emergency department setting to collect patient tracking information. A simulated pediatric emergency department clinical assessment room was developed to serve as a test room to collect patient tracking information. This information included the interaction times between simulated patients, parents, physicians, and nurses. Direct observation of these interaction times were recorded by an observer. A patient tracking system based on active RFID technology recorded interaction times between models wearing RFID devices and recorded this information in a computerized data log. Comparison between the direct observation record and the data log was used to determine accuracy, precision, and reliability. A total of 152 directly observed interactions were recorded. Data extraction from the data log yielded 152 sensor-recorded interactions, resulting in a reliability of 1.0. Data pair comparison on all events resulted in a mean difference of 2.88 seconds. Active RFID-based patient tracking systems are a precise and reliable means of recording patient interaction events in the pediatric emergency department.