Media holder having communication capabilities

A holder for holding at least one medium bearing medical information, with the at least one medium having a radio frequency transponder associated therewith, the holder comprising:

• a holding body to receive and hold the at least one medium bearing medical information;
• an antenna;
• and
• a radio frequency communication circuit connected to the antenna operable to sense a first electromagnetic field transmitted remotely by a radio frequency read write device, generate a near-distance second electromagnetic field in the holding body with the second electromagnetic field adapted to cause at least one radio frequency transponder associated with the at least one medium held by the holding body to respond with at least one near-distance third electromagnetic field that can be used to identify at least one medium bearing medical information within the holding body, wherein the radio frequency communication circuit further transmits a fourth electromagnetic field that can be used to identify at least one medium bearing medical information within the holding body to the remote radio frequency read write device.