This document discusses using RFID technology to increase efficiency and decrease disease spread at South African community health centers (CHCs). There are currently many inefficiencies such as long registration lines, difficulty finding patient folders, and long wait times to receive treatment. The proposed RFID system aims to 1) reduce bottlenecks during registration, folder retrieval, and medication pickup; 2) quickly separate tuberculosis patients from others to decrease disease spread; and 3) notify patients of their wait status and expected treatment timeline. Possible RFID alternatives discussed include using electronic wait lists, LED signs on shelves to locate patient folders, and automatic patient registration at pharmacies.

1. RFID in South African Community Health Centers Lindsay Janes Stella Cho Byron Cheng Jason Kim

2. Overview Many sources of inefficiencies in management of clinics Increase in spreading of disease Create bottlenecks Registering Finding folders Receiving treatment Getting medications

3. Objective Incorporate RFID technology into patient management in South African Community Health Centers (CHCs) in order to increase overall efficiency of the clinic and decrease the spread of infectious diseases.

4. The Status Quo Typical progression throughout CHC: Blueprint of typical CHC:

5. Step 1: The Entrance and Registration

6. Alternatives Current situation Requirements Reduce bottleneck Decrease spread of disease Specifications 1.6 patients/minute plus companions All patients with TB and RFID tags sent to TB area

7. Alternatives Possible alternatives Patient with an RFID tag TB patient Not TB patient Patient without an RFID tag TB patient Not a TB patient

9. No separate waiting area

10. Wandering

12. Increase transparency

13. Specifications

14. Notify status - up to 300 patients at a time

15. Alternatives Using RFID

16. Electronic wait list

17. Name, wait time

19. Contain infectious diseases

20. Specifications

21. 5 ft buffer space between wait area

22. Alternatives Using RFID

23. Locked doors (barrier)

24. Decrease in buffer

26. Specifications Requirement Find folders more quickly Match up with rate of patients seeing practitioners Specifications Be able to accommodate 4 registration booths Capable of handling 20 patients per hr per practitioner

27. Alternative 1: LED on Shelves Individual folders have RFID tag LEDs are mounted on every shelf Each shelf has RFID reader that is wired to LEDs and barcode scanners at window

28. Alternative 1: LED on Shelves Window worker scans patient barcode and name goes in queue System takes names from queue Readers find detect the file and activate corresponding LED Worker goes to shelf and finds the folder manually

29. Alternative 1: LED on Shelves

30. Alternative 2: Handheld Reader Each worker assigned an RFID reader Will be programmed to look for particular tag/folder Will beep or blink when brought near the proper tag.

31. Alternative 2: Handheld Reader

32. Treatment Area to Pharmacy

33. Treatment Area to Pharmacy Requirement: To decrease patient waiting time in the pharmacy Specification: A patient should wait no more than 15min to receive medication Alternative 1: RFID automatically registers patient at pharmacy Alternative 2: RFID automatically adds to patients to a wait list when entering the pharmacy waiting area.

34. Summary Specifications- System must: Be able to accommodate 4 registration booths Be capable of handling 20 patients per hr per practitioner Process entering patients at 1.6 patients/minute Notify patient of their status up to 300 patients at a time Allow a 5 ft buffer space between TB and non-TB patients Ensure that wait time to receive medication does not exceed 15 min