Deploy the Best Real time location system in hospitals

Real-time location system in hospitals for tracking of patients, wheelchairs inventory pallets

Improving patient safety with real time location system in hospitals

Real time location system in hospitals for real time asset tracking of scrubs, linen management, and garments in healthcare and hospitals uses Bluetooth tags – (Bluetooth Low Energy) is an established and widely used technology that can be used in different areas and one of them is healthcare. It can address many of the pain points like inventory optimization, asset tracking perishable medicines monitoring, etc. faced in this sector. Use cases that can make use of Bluetooth mesh technology for a better output are listed below.

Tracking Scrubs, Linen management in operation theatre using real time location system in hospitals

RfID asset tracking in hospitals

In healthcare, as part of the lifecycle of surgical scrubs and linen management, Tracking scrubs, linens, and garments in ophthalmology clinics & orthopedic specialty hospitals with inventory tags are used, cleaned, and returned for further usage. Although the costs of these items aren’t typically a consideration when it comes to seeking improved management, the administration time and effort of managing the items are costly. Tags can be attached to scrubs and linens to improve traceability and optimize the management of the items.

Benefits of using real time location system in hospitals for linen and laundry management

  1. Improved inventory management: BLE technology enables real-time tracking of hospital linen and laundry, providing an accurate view of inventory levels and reducing the risk of stockouts.
  2. Increased efficiency: BLE technology allows for automatic tracking of hospital linen and laundry, eliminating the need for manual tracking and reducing the risk of errors.
  3. Cost savings: By providing a more accurate view of inventory levels and reducing the risk of stockouts, BLE technology can help hospitals reduce the amount of linen and laundry they need to purchase.
  4. Enhanced patient safety: BLE technology can help hospitals track the movement of hospital linen and laundry, ensuring that contaminated items are properly handled and preventing the spread of infection.
  5. Integrate along with hospital front office software to improve the patient registration process.

Overall, BLE technology can provide significant benefits for hospitals looking to improve their linen and laundry management processes, helping them to save time, reduce costs, and improve patient safety.

Bluetooth Low Energy tags that are laundry-safe are attached to scrubs and linens. Options typically include being able to heat seal, stitch or embed the BLE tag. As the items leave and enter a facility, real time asset tracking with handhelds, and read points can capture the movement or transfer of items.

Tracking Medical Sets with real time location system in hospitals

In hospitals, tracing medical sets like surgical kits and accessories throughout their lifecycle is critical from an operational perspective. The ability to quickly locate these items comes in handy when an emergency situation arises. Nurses and doctors increase their productivity by enabling proper medical set records.

What is asset tracking in hospitals? BLE technology provides automation in the management of workflows for medical sets. These typically include receiving, sterilization/cleaning, inspection, auditing, replenishment, and shipping. Autoclave-tolerant tags are attached to surgical sets and other medical kits. These tags are designed to withstand the autoclave process that surgical sets and cases typically go through for sterilization and cleaning. By establishing readers in workstations, portals, and read points, valuable information on these sets can be gained as they pass through each process.

For real time asset tracking in hospitals, knowing where their assets are is essential for business operations. High-value assets like IV pumps, heart monitors, personal protective equipment (PPE), syringe pumps, oxygen cylinders, etc. need to be located instantly when an emergency occurs. Having visibility of the location of these assets can simplify the healthcare workflow and save a lot of time. Beyond the tracking, a solidified management of assets can be achieved including asset repair/ maintenance and asset utilization.

BLE tags are attached to assets. Depending on the type of asset, a metal tag, or specialty tag may be used. Depending on visibility requirements,  read zones can be created at strategic locations within the hospital to pick up asset information as they move. Fixed readers kept at doors can give insights into utilization by recording entry/exit times. Even low-value assets like blood bags, wheelchairs, stretchers, beds, etc. can also be tracked efficiently using such technology.

Using RTLS devices solutions in the healthcare industry, foolproof tracking solutions will help reduce the theft of medical equipment and surgical instruments, apart from providing real-time location systems to improve patient care and patient safety

Inventory tags can be used to track inventory levels of medical supplies and medications, ensuring that hospitals have adequate stock on hand and reducing the risk of stockouts. This can improve patient care by ensuring that necessary supplies are available when needed.

Asset tracking tags can be used to track the movement of patients within hospitals, ensuring that they are in the correct location for appointments, tests, and procedures. This can help improve patient flow and reduce wait times.

BLE technology can be used to track the movement and storage of blood products, ensuring that they are properly stored and transported and reducing the risk of errors or contamination.

As mentioned earlier, smart tags can be used to track hospital linen and laundry, ensuring that they are properly cleaned and sanitized, and reducing the risk of infection transmission.

Overall, BLE technology can help hospitals improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance patient safety by providing real-time visibility into the movement and status of assets, inventory, patients, and medical supplies.

Hospital Laboratory Equipment Tracking Healthcare real time location system solutions (RTLS)

Having an in-depth knowledge of the location of equipment is essential to lab operations. Bottles, test tubes, funnels, and other lab equipment are easily prone to missing and theft. BLE technology can be used to quickly check out and check in equipment, avoid theft, and accurately scan items allowing lab personnel to focus on their core responsibilities. Read about hospital asset maintenance software.

Medical records document management with real time location system in hospitals

In hospitals, there will be records of patients, staff, assets, etc. in hard copy, and managing these huge files is very difficult. Finding the right file amid large collections of files is a very time-consuming task. Proper management of these files reduces time consumption and increases productivity. Each file can be tagged using tags and readers (handheld, fixed) collect data from the tags easily. It will help in locating the right document and prevent missing and manipulating it effectively.

IT hospital Asset Management & asset tracking in hospitals

In hospitals, a wide variety of IT Assets are used by their employees to improve their day-to-day productivity. Whether this is laptops, computers, or tablets, it is essential to have accountability in asset management. Also, there will be server rooms that will need proper temperature control. RFID can be used to maintain IT assets and ideal temperatures inside server rooms.

Real time asset tracking tags and labels are attached to IT Assets. Depending on asset type (moving or non-moving) we can choose handheld or fixed readers to track them. Temperature sensors can be installed in the server rooms to monitor environmental conditions and if any overheating is identified an alert will be sent to the concerned staff.  Enhance patient safety with healthcare asset-tracking RTLS solutions.

RFID real time Asset tracking in hospitals for Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria

Asset tracking in hospitals

Call us to know how scrub and linen tracking in multi location clinics and speciality hospitals can prevent theft of medical equipment, abuse of medical assets in hospitals. Improving productivity related to the front office, operation theatre, laboratory, pharmacy, and outpatient departments can help improve staff productivity and enhance the patient experience for hospitals in Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa.

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Vikas ERP
Duleep Sahadevan, Founder and director at Software Associates Information Technologies. Brings over 2 decades of expertise in Healthcare and logistics ERP software solutions. Done research papers on Return On Investment (IIMK 2008), Digital Self service (2014 Utrecht University), Design thinking (Utrecht 2022)