DIRECTIONAL RFID READER

1 . A hand held device comprising:

a body comprising a directional antenna; and

an integrated radio frequency identification (“RFID”) reader coupled to the directional antenna.

2 . The hand held device of claim 1 , wherein the directional antenna comprises a material selected from the group consisting of ferrite, titanium and ceramic.

3 . The hand held device of claim 1 further comprising a database of patient information.

4 . The hand held device of claim 1 , wherein the hand held device is configured to be operated with one hand.

5 . The hand held device of claim 1 further comprising an input device.

6 . The hand held device of claim 5 , wherein the input device is configured to activate the RFID reader.

7 . The hand held device of claim 1 further comprising an aiming light coupled to the directional antenna, the aiming light aligned with respect to the directional antenna.

8 . The hand held device of claim 7 further comprising a switch coupled to the aiming light.

9 . The hand held device of claim 8 , wherein the aiming light is configured to read a one dimensional or a two dimensional code.

10 . The hand held device of claim 8 , wherein the aiming light is configured to read an IntelliDot dot.

11 . The hand held device of claim 8 further comprising a timer coupled to the aiming light.

12 . The hand held device of claim 11 , wherein the timer is configured to delay activating the RFID reader.

13 . A system for identifying an animal comprising:

an RFID tag attached to the animal; and

a hand held device, wherein the hand held device comprises:

an RFID reader; and

a directional antenna coupled to the RFID reader.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the hand held device further comprises a database of identification information.

15 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the hand held device further comprises an aiming light.

16 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the animal is a human.

17 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the hand held device is configured to display identification information on the hand held.

18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the identification information is at least one of a number and a name.

19 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the RFID tag is attached to the animal by at least one of a bracelet, a necklace, a collar, and a pin.

20 . A method for monitoring workflow in a medical environment comprising:

providing a hand held device comprising a directional antenna coupled to an RFID reader;

providing an RFID tag; and

reading the RFID tag with the hand held device.

21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the directional antenna comprises a material selected from the group consisting of ferrite, titanium and ceramic.

22 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the RFID tag comprises as least one of a bracelet, a necklace, a collar, and a pin.

23 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the hand held device is configured to visually signal whether the RFID tag has been read.

24 . The method of claim 20 further comprising

providing an aiming light coupled to the hand held; and

aligning the directional antenna with the aiming light.

25 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the aiming light is configured to read a one dimensional or a two dimensional code.

26 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the aiming light is configured to remain on until the RFID tag has been read.

27 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the hand held device is configured to audibly signal whether the RFID tag has been read.

28 . A method for monitoring workflow in a medical environment comprising:

providing a hand held device comprising a directional antenna coupled to a RFID reader;

providing a RFID tag; and

writing to the RFID tag with the hand held device.

29 . The method of claim 28 further comprising reading the RFID tag with the hand held device.

30 . The method of claim 28 further comprising

providing an aiming light coupled to the hand held; and

aligning the directional antenna with the aiming light.

31 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the aiming light is configured to read a two dimensional code.

32 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the aiming light is configured to remain on until the RFID tag has been read.

33 . The method of claim 28 , wherein the directional antenna comprises a material selected from the group consisting of ferrite, titanium and ceramic.

34 . The method of claim 28 , wherein the hand held device is configured to visually or audibly signal whether the RFID tag has been read.