Near field communication and health: turning a mobile phone into an interactive multipurpose assistant in healthcare scenarios

In this paper we discuss the introduction of the Near Field Communication (NFC) technology in the management of the assistance operations in the hospitals. NFC is a new short range communication system based on RFID technology. NFC systems can work like traditional RFID systems, where a master device reads some information from a slave device, but they can also set up a two-way communication between two items. In particular, NFC devices can be integrated on mobile phones, widely enhancing the intercommunication capabilities of the users. The introduction of NFC in sanitary environments can help to make safer all the assistance operations. Next to the realization of a NFC electronic case history, we also studied the realization of electronic medical prescription and the use of this technology for the exchange of patient data between doctors and between nurses, in order to avoid errors in the attendance operations. The final idea is to change a mobile phone into an interactive multipurpose assistant for people working in hospitals or in harness with patients.