Wegmans Testing RFID Tags To Track Prescriptions
Written by Evan SchumanJanuary 17th, 2008
The Wegmans Food Market chain is going to trial whether RFID-tagged prescriptions could make processing orders more accurate and fast, according to this story in RFID Journal.
But the more controversial aspect of the trial will be looking at “how the usefulness of RFID tags on individual pill bottles or blister packs could be extended beyond the point of purchase. For this application, they’re seeking partners interested in developing in-home RFID tag interrogators that consumers could use to organize their drugs and manage when and how much they should take.”
-Marc
January 18th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
The idea of tagging medicine and using the information beyond the point of sale is both cool and scary. The benefits are there, but the risks can not be neglected, especially as they relate to privacy in this case.
January 18th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
I think Doug hit on a hot topic. The medical services industry tried to use smart cards to keep patient information for emergency use and followup physician examinations. The problem was if a patient went to a care-giver that was not part of the “system”. That information was not logged on the smart-card. It opened the door for misinformation on patient care and medications on subsequent visit to “system” providers.
The privacy issues are important and sensitive. How the information would be read will be interesting. Say I normally buy my presriptions at CVS. I walk into a Walgreens next week with my presription in my pocket as I look over the birthday cards on the shelf. Will that tag from CVS be read? Will it tell them who I am and what I am taking? I am only using these 2 drug stores as examples and dont imply this has or would happen in their operations.
The centralized medical database that the insurance companies use, typically have all that information already. But is this another oportunity for unwarrented reading?
I applaud and appreciate the pre POS use of the tags. Its great for inventory and lot tracking of controlled medication.