RFID tags (Radio Frequency Identification) are used to track assets using a radio signal which can be received and used to determine the exact location of the asset to which they are attached.  Modern developments have now made it possible for RFID tags to be much smaller and even more effective in their tracking function while the cost has also dramatically dropped.  This allows FRID tags to be used in ever more situations and the medical field is a perfect example of how RFID tags can be used to track multiple assets and provide enhanced security and identification protection.

Medications, specimens, laboratory samples and even patients can now be tracked – and tracking time sensitive assets, such as an organ for transplantation, or a patient who needs to be continuously monitored, say someone suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease, is now practical and cost effective.

RFID tags also possess the ability to contain information, including patient data, but also information on dates of manufacture, application, dosage and warning information.  RFID tags also provide the ultimate level of authentication; many medicines used in developing countries are in fact counterfeited by unscrupulous criminals looking to make huge sums of money which many drugs command on the market.  An RFID tag is almost impossible for counterfeiters to replicate, so the presence of such a tag is a good indicator that the medicines are in fact genuine.

RFID tags come in two main forms: a short-range tag, known as an HF tag (High Frequency), and UHF tag (Ultra High Frequency) with a longer scanning range.  HF tags are suitable for use in tracking medical samples and specimens such as blood and tissue samples because they work effectively in proximity to liquids and human samples.  UHF tags are affected by close proximity to liquids and can be affected by close proximity to tissue samples (the human body is primarily made up of water), and it is also important for proper “tuning” of UHF tags in a medical environment because they are also affected by proximity to metals and radiation (some things which are commonly found in hospitals and medical laboratories).

RFID tags being used for patient tracking has caused some controversy in terms of the invasion of patient privacy, however, where patients are at risk to themselves, such as those suffering from dementia or temporary mental incapacity, they are invaluable for securing identification and monitoring patient status.  Certainly, one use of RFID tags appears to have gained the seal of approval from patients when used to track newborn infants – there can be no doubt that the baby you take home from the hospital is the child which you gave birth to with no possibility of hospital mix-ups!

Patient safety can also be significantly enhanced using RFID tags; for instance, when you need to locate a crash cart (a defibrillator) for a patient in cardiac arrest, you need to find it fast.  RFID tags provide the ability to accurately and quickly pinpoint the location of the cart which can be brought into action much faster for patient assistance.

In terms of hospital administration, RFID tags help to automate inventory management and reduce the administration costs of managing a broad range of sometimes, extremely expensive items, many of which are used as commodity stock items but which are in fact, extremely expensive.  Simple scalpels for instance, are a commonly used item in hospitals and medical institutions, however they are very costly and need to be tracked and managed effectively to avoid wasting money.  RFID tags open the door to significant cost savings by ensuring all instruments and equipment are accounted for at the end of an operation or medical procedure.

Asset Labels Tracking the War on Terror

In 2003, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) instituted an asset tracking program in order to track DoD property under the control of external contractors.  This arose amidst claims of of contractors misappropriating assets, employing wasteful practices and generally charging exorbitant sums for work which should not have been charged.  Some readers may recall the issues associated with $200 hammers or thousand dollar toilet seats which plagued NASA, and in the realm of defense spending, there were many instances of inappropriate billing by contractors which was met by the extremely large budget of the Dod and ultimately, the taxpayer was footing the bill.

The Unique Identification program (UID) ensures that government property and assets are all marked by a special asset tag – the individual asset is allocated an Individual UID (known as the IUID – the military are renowned for their use of acronyms) and this in turn produces a Unique Identification Identifier (UII).  All equipment delivered to the DoD by an external supplier must bear a UII which comes in the form of a 2D matrix (a barcode), and this in turn feeds into the billing program of the external contractor which must be managed and presented in a format which meets DoD standards.

With the “War on Terror” commencing in 2003, the DoD is taking delivery of equipment throughout the sphere of operations as well as its main logistics deployment establishment established in Richmond, VA.  There are numerous problems associated with ensuring that equipment is delivered and gets to where it is needed most, especially for those operations involving combat and security duty in high risk areas such as Afghanistan.  At the same time, while the focus is on combat and operational effectiveness, it is very difficult to effectively manage equipment and supplies which are delivered direct into the sphere of operations by external contractors.  When you are getting shot at, you are less likely to be concerned with accounting for equipment!

The UII tags remove the need for such intensive management by personnel in the field, and simplifies the entire tracking and inventory management process.  The program has already resulted in savings worth several billions of dollars in the 6 years which it has been in operation, and has also been used as the  basis for billing adjustments with external contractors who otherwise would have billed for equipment and supplies not delivered as well as reversing overcharges.

One application of the UID program has seen enormous savings in the area of containerization.  The  DoD is the largest customer for cargo containers in the Middle East area with enormous amounts of cargo being transported and stored at a variety of ports and externally managed supply centers prior to onward transportation to the “front”.  Cargo containers are extremely expensive pieces of kit, and they are not in fact owned by the DoD – the containerization system relies upon them being leased or rented (typically for a $2,000 per week).  These containers are spread around a huge geographical area, greater than the size of the U.S., and in a large number of disparate locations.  It is vital to track them and establish which are in use and which are nt being used – by ensuring that idle use is minimized, and advising the owner of non-use, significant savings have been incurred by not paying for containers which are in fact, sitting idle in the owners depot or are still on the lease book but in fact, are not being employed.

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Kristen Thompson, customer care tech, scans a cat in search of a microchip to identify the pet's owner. (Post / John Leyba)

The Pros

The advantages of inserting a microchip in your pet are numerous:

• As we have already said, the procedure is quick and causes no pain for your pet;
• It is highly effective in returning pets to their owners when they go missing;
• The presence of the microchip and the information contained on the chip register demonstrates who owns the pet in the event someone else takes your missing animal in and decides to give them a “new home”;
• Microchips are usually used for cats and dogs but they are also eminently suitable for a wide range of other pets and animals, including livestock;
• The chip reader information is always clear and will never fade unlike a tattoo;
• Chipping your pet is permanent unlike using a collar and tag; and
• Shelters and the police will automatically scan a found pet to see if the animal has a chip.

Chipping your pet dramatically increases the odds of being reunited with them if they go missing compared to traditional forms of finding a missing animal.

This is not to say that there aren’t any drawbacks to the micro-chipping your pet.

The Cons

• Some microchips are not readable by different types of chip reader, so even if your pet is chipped, unless the shelter is operating the appropriate type of reader, your pet’s microchip may not actually be detected and read;
• Microchips are not visible and there is nothing to say that a pet has been chipped unless there is an additional identifying tag on their collar, though collars and tags may be lost as well – this leads to the possibility that your pet may be “adopted” by the finder who may be blissfully unaware you own the pet;
• The owner must keep the register updated with their contact information and frequently there are costs involved in maintaining the entry and for making any changes to it;
• The chip can migrate within your pet’s body which may make it impossible to read with a scanner;
• Microchips are not GPS tracking devices, so they do not give the animal’s position if it goes missing though many people assume this is in fact the case;
• The technology is not widely known to the general public who may therefore not know that the pet should be scanned in the first place – this means it is essential to still tag your pet and also to make it clear that there is microchip inserted; and
• When a pet does go missing, owners with an animal which has been chipped tend to assume the pet will be returned to them because of this.  As a result, they neglect to take action to locate their pet themselves, such as calling the shelters and placing missing posters around the neighborhood.

Asset Tags by Maverick Label – Mark Trumper

Creating an asset register is as simple as creating a spreadsheet – for those who are not computer literate, all you need is a sheet of lined paper with several ruled columns indicating the date, the name and type of asset with an allocated serial number and any other information you wish to track, such as location or staff member responsible for it for instance.

Each asset needs to be marked or affixed with a suitable asset tag or label.  Asset labels need to be robust and capable of withstanding hard use as well as dealing with environmental factors such as being stored outside where the weather and elements operate.  Typically, they are coated with a very strong and weatherproof adhesive which also makes them remarkably difficult to remove by thieves.  It is not uncommon to find asset labels and tags to be made from sturdy aluminum foil which makes them virtually indestructible and suitable for the most hard-wearing environments.

Arranging for sequential asset numbers to be printed is simple – asset label printers who are experienced in providing these products are very capable of delivering asset tags which can be sequentially numbered and ready for you to allocate as a serial number to individual assets.  More advanced asset labels can carry a barcode which contains much more detailed information than a simple serial number.

Barcode labels can carry a wide range of information including inception and termination dates, maintenance and upgrade information as well as simple identity markers demonstrating ownership.  With a cheap barcode scanner you can also integrate asset tracking directly into your computer based asset register and software packages such as QuickBooks, provide a simple means of integrating your asset tracking with your accounting system.

Asset labels are at the core of protecting your business assets – they provide a visible marker and stamp of your ownership which in itself, acts as a deterrent to thieves or those looking to use your property when they are not authorized to.  They also will simplify your asset tracking and especially when you have equipment being used off-site or by contractors – this is essential if you are to protect your property and engender a sense of responsibility in users.  Asset tracking  is also an essential requirement for your accounting when it comes to being able to demonstrate that the assets you own and are reflected in your balance sheet and accounts, are in fact in your physical possession and do exist.

Talk to your print partner about how asset labels can be put to work for your business – they are simple to source and easy to use and the cost is minimal compared to the value of the assets they track and protect.

Now depending on what type of property you are placing an asset tag upon will determine what material you want to use when choosing a property label – and there are many materials to choose from.

Label Styles

Asset tags are made of various types of materials. One is polyester – 2 mil –metalized matte silver with permanent adhesive or the polyester – 2 mil -gloss white. This material is heat resistant, as well as abrasion, tearing, and stretch resistant. This type of asset tag is used for placing a label on a lap top, desk top computer, office furniture or other office items, and cell phones to let their identity known to others. Not only is this type of asset tag material good in the office but it is also good for industrial related machinery due to the fact that it does well under heat and a lot of physical stress.

Security Asset Tags

If security is your purpose for searching out asset tags, then the security polyester-2 mil-silver permanent tag is your best choice. It is tamper resistant and provides a mirror finish with the word “VOID” on it when the label has been removed. Not only does the word just show up on the remaining bit of label, but it also remains on the property as well with its unique adhesive design. Once this type of label has been removed it cannot be replaced. A new label must be created and replaced on the property.

Asset tags are a great way to protect your property, keep inventory of what you have with the scanning features that many labels allow as you would see in many department stores. Perhaps you have a large movie or a large CD collection and you want to be sure that your property stays your property. Adding a label each case and scanning it into a computer will help you to keep track of what you have and what you don’t.

You can order various types of asset tags online. One popular website is Maverick Label. Ordering from this website is fairly easy and not very expensive. It’s a great way to obtain the labels you will need to protect and ID your items.