Press Release

ASHP Foundation Awards $60,000 in Grants for Radio-Frequency Identification Technology (RFID) Research

The ASHP Foundation, in collaboration with the ASHP Innovation Center, recently awarded funding to two researchers through the Enhancing Adoption of Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) Technology Grant Program.

Amanda Beck, PharmD from Houston Methodist Hospital, and Jonathan Hwang, PharmD, BCPS from the University of California, Davis Health, each received nearly $30,000 for projects using RFID technology in medication use systems.

“Supporting research on innovations, such as RFID, by early adopters is a key precursor to implementation by others,” said ASHP Foundation CEO Steven A. Rubloff. “Projects such as Dr. Beck’s and Dr. Hwang’s explore RFID technology’s potential to enhance medication safety and allow pharmacists to devote more time to patient care activities.”

The Enhancing Adoption of RFID Technology Grant Program Projects are:

Expansion, Evaluation, and Comparison of Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) and Bluetooth Low Energy Technology Tracking Systems for Optimization of Pharmacy Crash Cart Operations 
Amanda Beck, PharmD
Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX

Operational Impacts of Multimodal RFID Technology Implementation 
Jonathan Hwang, PharmD, BCPS
University of California, Davis Health, Sacramento, CA

The Enhancing Adoption of RFID Technology Grant Program is the second phase of an initiative sponsored by Fresenius Kabi to enhance the diffusion and adoption of RFID technology in medication use systems. This grant program was designed based on the results of a first phase that delved into and raised awareness of current trends, process and system opportunities/challenges, and expected outcomes. 

The ASHP Foundation has also released a podcast: “Perspectives on the Potential Impact of RFID Technology on Medication Safety.” In this episode, anesthesia and pharmacy leaders explore the potential impact of implementing RFID technology on patient and medication safety in care settings where sedation is administered.