Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Adoption in Healthcare Linen Management: A Case study at ProLinenCare

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Adoption in Healthcare Linen Management: A Case study at ProLinenCare

Authors

  • Siva Kumar Ramasamy Othman Yeop Abdulah Graduate School of Business, Universiti Utara Malaysia
  • Shahizan Hassan Othman Yeop Abdulah Graduate School of Business, Universiti Utara Malaysia

Abstract

The Malaysian healthcare industry is experiencing a steady growth, rapidly expanding to meet the needs of society. Expectedly, this development led to a high demand for healthcare linen. With increasing competition, healthcare linen and laundry services (LLS) provider companies need to efficiently cope with the impending demand and business issues / challenges. Presently, ProLinenCare, a fast growing linen and laundry company in Malaysia is struggling with healthcare linen management which gives a strong impact on its total inventory management. The company’s Linen Manager, Mrs. Sharon is looking for an immediate solution to increase efficiency in healthcare linen management in order to meet the customers’ demand. Thus, a comprehensive study is essential and need to be carried out systematically in order to identify the possible solution(s). The company should take various factors into account, including technological advancements. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology is a fast growing technology that is able to produce major changes in healthcare linen management. The primary purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the ways to increase efficiency in healthcare linen management by adopting RFID technology. A case study was initiated at ProLinenCare (M) Sdn Bhd. The case study was carried out by assessing the key processes in healthcare linen management, interviewing key personnel and reviewing selected secondary data. In addition, an observation of data obtained from the laundry site visits was also conducted to evaluate the business issues / challenges and suggest mitigation plan to increase efficiency in healthcare linen management in order to meet performance indicators and exceeding customer satisfaction.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Aksoy, A., Ozturk, N., & Sucky, E. (2012). A decision support system for demand forecasting in the clothing industry. International Journal of Clothing Science and Technology, 24(4), 221 – 236.
Beggs, B.(2007). Survey: 50% of polled say linen loss one of their biggest issues. American Laundry News. Retrieved from https://americanlaundrynews.com/articles/survey-50- polled-say-linen-loss-one-their-biggest-issues
Bloom, J. (2015). Surgery cancelled at Helen Joseph because of linen. Retrieved from http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/2015/07/28/Surgery-cancelled-at-Helen-Joseph-because- of-linen
Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia, (2016). KKM health fact 2016. Retrieved from http://www.moh.gov.my/images/gallery/publications/KKM%20HEALTH%20FACTS%20 2016.pdf
Koumanakos, P. D. (2008). The effect of inventory management on firm performance. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, 57(5), 355 – 369.
Mediserve, E. (2017). Company description. Retrieved from https://www.emis.com/php/company-profile/MY/Edgenta_Mediserve_Sdn_Bhd_en_ 2381206.html
Bowen, M. E., Wingrave, C. A., Klanchar, A., & Craighead, J. (2013). Tracking technology: Lessons learned in two health care sites. Technology and Health Care, 21(3), 191-197.
Muhammad Masum, A.K., Bhuiyan, F., & Azad, M.A.K. (2013). Impact of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology on supply chain efficiency: An extensive study. Global Journal of Researches in Engineering Civil and Structural Engineering, 13(4), 9 – 14.
One Medicare (2017). Corporate information. Retrieved from http://www.one- medicare.com/c_about_02.php
Pantai Medivest, (2017). Company profile. Retrieved from http://www.medivest.com.my/
Radicare (2017). Medilaund (M) Sdn Bhd. Retrieved from http://www.radicare.com.my/medilaund.html
Russell F. Lewis, (2003). Implementation guide for the use of barcode technology in healthcare (1st ed.). Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society.
Sedafiat (2017). Corporate info. Retrieved from http://sedafiat.com.my/v2/index.php/About_Us
Swedberg, C. (2013). Linen loss drops by 90% at Los Angeles luxury hotel. RFID Journal. Retrieved from http://www.rfidjournal.com/articles/view?10953
Visich, K. J., Li, S., Khumawala, M.B. & Reyes, M.P. (2008). Empirical evidence of RFID impacts on supply chain performance. International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 29(12), 1290-1315.
Zainul, E. (2018). Malaysia's healthcare industry to grow to RM80b by 2020 — Frost & Sullivan. Retrieved from http://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/malaysias-healthcare- industry-grow-rm80b-2020-%E2%80%94-frost-sullivan
Zare Mehrjerdi, Y. (2011). Radio frequency identification: the big role player in health care management. Journal of Health Organization and Management, 25(5), 490-505.

Downloads

Published

30-06-2018

How to Cite

Ramasamy, S. K., & Hassan, S. (2018). Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Adoption in Healthcare Linen Management: A Case study at ProLinenCare. Global Business Management Review (GBMR), 10(1), 47–65. Retrieved from https://e-journal.uum.edu.my/index.php/gbmr/article/view/11057
Loading...