Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for tracking the progress of patient in a healthcare or medical facility, including an emergency room or department. The system requires minimal additional input of data from busy facility personnel or administrators. Tracking of patients is accomplished using RFID tags with unique identification numbers attached to individual patient charts, and determining the presence of the charts and the time deposited in a chart rack or holder at various stations in the facility through RFID interrogators that detect the RFID tags on the charts when they are placed in the rack. The system monitors the time a patient chart remains at a particular station, and can provide alerts when patient charts remain longer than a certain period of time. The system also stores the data collected over a period of time and can provide reports on patient flow through the facility.