# Electromagnetic Assessment of UHF-RFID Devices in Healthcare Environment
## 4 Discussion
When individuals are within a direct proximity of readers emitting antennas, there emerges a need to undertake the relevant prevention measures, that will be of assistance to vulnerable individuals, users of medical implants and electronic devices. To this extent, the lowest limit of E-field to be examined as regards the electromagnetic interferences with electronic devices (EMC) is 3 V/m (CENELEC) EN 60601-1-2:2015 [35]. Therefore, the space where E-field level may exceed the EMC-related attention level is many-time larger than the space of exposure which requires evaluation with respect to SAR limits. However, following the SAR results,it is revealed that the EMF exposure near to the manually operated UHF RFID readers (guns) do not provide the SAR values that will exceed the general public limits, on the condition that the emission does not exceed 1 W, which in fact implies the use of the RFID system with a reading range of from 3 to 10 m (depending upon the sensitivities of used tag). The E-field values obtained with the use of the 3D-RL deterministic approach showed good agreement between the simulation and measurement values, indicating the adequate option to perform estimation of volumetric E-field distribution and mapping with the use of the proposed methodology. This is why the foregoing approach is considered a useful tool, with the specified methodology to provide an immediate and accurate vision of the EM fields, for detect the highly exposed areas, within the proximity of the patients, visitors and the healthcare personnel. The 2D graphic representation, with 2D contour maps, may be of assistance when ensuring protection against EM interferences with medical devices, that may cause potential damage to patients, and when detecting highly exposed locations, whereby the emission values do not reach the suggested limits, and when planning and developing the prospected high-tech healthcare centers [6]. All the above specified activities and measures should be compatible with a sufficient signal level set for the wireless systems as installed at a healthcare center. A potentially excessive amount of exposure to the EMF emitted by UHF-RFID devices can be dangerous to patients or other people; therefore, it requires further more comprehensive analysis and examination, with the good practice guidelines to be accurately developed for the design and use of RFID systems at the healthcare industry. There have been some limitations for the exposure formally compliant with mentioned international guidelines, including the principles to be applicable to precautionary measures that in fact require some further consideration [37; 38]. The limits provided by the guidelines are considered only with regard to the protection against the thermal effects of such exposure, yet not against any other potentially harmful effects as reported for the lower EMF exposures. However, as it has been determined under the applicable guidelines and laws and regulations, vulnerable individuals, such as the users of medical implants specifically, may require some further protection to be further considered, for example as required from employers' activities, following the provisions of the Directive 2013/35/EU [36]. The electromagnetic hazard assessment methods subject to discussion hereunder, as well as the issue of the assessment of the RFID system operation in healthcare environments, seems to be of importance due to social issues, legal issues as well as scientific research that are continuously applicable to such assessment, e.g., following the rhetoric of the SCHEER Scientific Committee on Health, Environmental and Emerging Risks, elaborating their opinion on the need of a revision of the annexes in Council Recommendation 1999/519/EC and Directive 2013/35/EU, in view of the latest scientific evidence available with regard to RF (100 kHz--300 GHz)--provided for public discussion in 2022.