Title: Using a hybrid algorithm and active RFID to construct a seamless infant rooming-in tracking mechanism

Authors: Lun-Ping Hung

Addresses: Department for Information Management, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, No. 365, Ming-Te Rd., Peitou Dist., Taipei City 10845, Taiwan

Abstract: Due to the rapid development of sensor and wireless equipment that integrates with information technology to construct intelligent mechanism, the quality of the clinical care of newborn babies has improved. To raise the success rate of requesting rooming-in care for newborn babies, baby-friendly hospitals should prevent the mistake of identifying newborns and assure the safety of newborn babies. This paper proposes a mechanism that includes a hybrid algorithm combining Location Fingerprint and K-nearest neighbour (KNN) algorithm and active radiofrequency identification technology using received signal strength indication transmission method to build a safer rooming-in environment. This mechanism can effectively avoid the situation, such as a stolen or switched baby, and be up to the standard certified by baby-friendly hospital initiative. The nursing department can easily arrange routine nursing works and increase nursing quality. The hospitals benefit from using the system with increased ratio of requesting rooming-in care.

Keywords: RFID; radio frequency identification; RSSI; received signal strength indication; infant rooming-in; KNN; K-nearest neighbour; location fingerprinting; clinical care; newborn babies; rooming-in care; newborns; patient safety; nursing quality; baby-friendly hospitals; infant tracking; baby tracking; patient identification; baby identification.

DOI: 10.1504/IJAHUC.2015.069498

International Journal of Ad Hoc and Ubiquitous Computing, 2015 Vol.19 No.1/2, pp.97 - 110

Received: 04 Jan 2014
Accepted: 23 Apr 2014
Published online: 19 May 2015 *

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