A medical item hanging storage system for medical items having stand-off readable tags, such as RFID tags, comprises storage devices comprising fixtures for holding hanging medical items, and readers for reading tags associated with each of the medical items, and tags that attached to the hanging medical items to be read by the readers. Tagging devices are used for attaching the RFID tags. The tagging devices each comprise a substrate, possibly including a hook, an adhesive portion for attaching the substrate to the medical item, and at least one spreader for separating RFID tags of adjacent medical items and/or other tags to facilitate reading of the tags.