RFID and bar codes--critical importance in enhancing safe patient care.

Medication administration recording and supply management are complex and interrelated processes. The integration of bar codes and radio frequency identification tags are viewed as critical in achieving effective and safe patient care. However, these systems are complex; all parts need to be aligned, and the systems must work together to produce the desired outcomes. In healthcare, automation using bar coding and RFID capabilities is of growing importance because of the Institutes of Medicine study and the integrated electronic medical record. Healthcare systems today are increasingly complex, and while bar codes and RFID technologies provide opportunities for enhanced patient care, systems using these capabilities must be carefully planned to achieve optimal outcomes.