An exploratory analysis of hospital perspectives on real time information requirements and perceived benefits of RFID technology for future adoption

• We analyze causal relationships between the perceived hospital asset and patient/staff management information requirements and RFID technology benefits.
• Healthcare increased efficiency and productivity goals can be accomplished by real time tracking and monitoring of medical asset and real time management of patient conditions and staff movement.
• Patient satisfaction is significantly linked to the real time monitoring of patient and staff workflow needs.
• Staff readiness for technology and investment in IS prior to RFID adoption plays a significant role in how hospitals can benefit from RFID.

Auto identification and data capture (AIDC) technologies, such as radio frequency identification (RFID) has been promising for real time traceability, communication, identification and location of goods, assets and people. Despite this promising trend, health care sector has not fully embraced RFID technology. The purpose of this study is to understand how RFID technology can be beneficial for meeting hospital real time asset and people management information requirements prior to adoption of the technology.Data collected from 81 operation directors shows that the hospital real time information requirements are significantly linked to perceived efficiency and patient satisfaction benefits of RFID. Furthermore, causal path analysis shows that the RFID enablers of staff capabilities/readiness for technology and investment in information systems (IS) contribute to the perceived efficiency and patient satisfaction benefits of RFID. Among the barriers not implementing RFID technology, cost is found the most significant.The significant association between hospital information requirements and perceived benefits of RFID technology shows that if hospital needs are understood, user acceptance of AIDC is likely. Moreover, staff readiness for technology and investment in IS prior to RFID adoption plays a significant role in how hospitals can benefit from RFID.