Mobile nursing cart service with radio frequency identification technology for use in measuring disabled body temperature

Abstract

Some serious diseases, including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and the H1N1 flu virus, have recently become widespread in Asia. One early symptom of these diseases is elevated body temperature. Therefore, it is important to measure body temperature to further prevent the spread of these infections. However, it is difficult for teachers and managers to engage in disease prevention on campus when schoolchildren are studying and moving from place to place within the campus. Furthermore, managing the body temperature of disabled students is more difficult than managing that of other schoolchildren. This paper presents a simple technology that makes it possible to measure the body temperature of disabled students: a mobile nursing cart (MNC) that employs passive radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. This web-based application facilitates identification confirmation using passive RFID technology, facilitates body temperature measurement using an electronic ear thermometer, allows effective server management via short message service, and protects the privacy of schoolchildren by using statistical reports. In 2010, twenty five disabled schoolchildren participated in this experiment, which lasted for one year. Valuable experimental data were collected that can be used to further develop this technology. Various related suggestions are proposed here. Indeed, although the MNCs that use RFID technology to measure the body temperature of disabled students can be employed in special schools, the proposed technologies require further improvement, and relevant guidelines for teacher behavior should be followed.