Trinitas to Test RFID Implants

Mobile Health Data | August 23 2005

Elizabeth, N.J.-based Trinitas Hospital will become the third hospital to scan patients implanted with radio frequency identification chips. The 531-bed hospital plans to test the VeriChip system, from Delray Beach, Fla.-based Applied Digital in its two emergency departments.

The technology can read the vendor's RFID chips that have been implanted underneath a patient's skin, between the elbow and shoulder. Each VeriChip contains a 16-digit identification number assigned by Applied Digital.

Trinitas will map patient's VeriChip numbers to their ID numbers in its clinical databases. Clinicians then can access patient data quickly by passing a scanning device over their arm.

Earlier this year, Hackensack (N.J.) University Medical Center and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, began using the technology. Three other unnamed health care organizations also plan to implement it, according to vendor executives.