Disney Cancer Center RFID Solution

In February 2010, Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California, expanded its facilities to include the abrand new cancer treatment center. Already the largest Hospital in the San Fernando Valley, the addition of a four-story, 55,000-square-foot building to the medical center further expands on-site services. The Cancer Center now has the most advanced cancer treatment equipment ever available and offers a range of cancer treatments at one location. The state-of-the-art building is named the Roy and Patricia Disney Family Cancer Center for its primary funding source.

Walt Disney's nephew Roy E. Disney dies of stomach cancer at age 79. Several years ago, he and his family made a generous donation of $10 million to Providence Medical Center, which, along with donations from surrounding businesses and organizations, raised the $36 million necessary to build the cancer center. The new center's primary goal is to heal the mind, body, and spirit while incorporating the healing power of nature and Roy's love of the ocean. The center also wanted to maintain a personal feel throughout the facility so patients would feel at ease. To achieve this, a comprehensive RFID system was installed. The idea is that upon entering a room, the patient's music, lighting and temperature preferences can be instantly and automatically adjusted.

  solution

To be successful, the RFID system needs to support the integration of products from multiple vendors and gain approval from multiple project stakeholders. Suppliers were reviewed over an eight-month period and the scope was narrowed. Authorities from all departments at the center, such as administrators, bioEngineering technicians, and clinicians, then worked with on-site experts to ensure that the system met all of the facility's needs. The resulting one-of-a-kind RFID-enabled system integrates products and solutions from many leading organizations and meets the project's original goal of creating an environmental experience that puts patients back in control, allowing the center to deliver a variety of integrative medical treatments.

Upon arrival at the treatment center, two RFID Readers located above the entrance will read the RFID-enabled patient identification badge. The tags, unmarked by anything other than an ID number, hang from a tag around each patient's neck and serve as a link to his or her bills, medications, schedules and doctor information. In addition, the label preserves the patient's ambience preferences. These preferences include six music choices, three color choices, various nature scenes and specific temperatures. Once recognized by the RFID reader, the concierge can immediately greet the patient and direct them to their next appointment.

An additional 32 RFID readers are installed on ceilings throughout the facility to cover maximum areas and are ready to immediately detect a patient when he or she has entered a treatment room. Patient identification data captured by the RFID readers is sent to a Reva System Tag Acquisition Processor (TAP), which aggregates RFID tag ID and location information and sends it to a visibility platform where hospital staff can track patients in real time s position. From here the data is distributed to the Connexall SOA gateway and complex security and room control systems handle patient movement and predetermined room configurations that instantly change lighting, music, temperature, video displays and other environmental conditions to suit the patient's personal taste. Patient location data is also displayed through the platform from distribution to servers, phones and IP browsers for patient contact.

  result

The evaluation and development of the Roy and Patricia Disney Family Cancer Center took approximately two years to complete. From there, four months of technical testing began until the factory was built and opened in February 2010. Since then, the center has been treating patients from all over the world, making cancer treatment more bearable. "I walk through these doors and I swear it's like angels singing. I'm not really a spiritual person but it's such a beautiful way to take your mind off therapy and use nature to help you Relax and let yourself feel at ease," said Julie Stevens, the first patient at the Disney Family Cancer Center. "When I was in the hospital receiving treatment, I would ignore that scary room. I would close my eyes and put my mind in another place," she said. "I don't need to do it here. They take me to that place." Once the device is fully operational, the center will help 2,500 to 3,000 patients a year feel this way.

In addition to creating a unique and personalized patient experience, the center also benefits from improved workflow between clinicians, patients and administrators. With this system in place, patients have more freedom to hang out at the Disney Family Cancer Center than they would otherwise. When it's time to make an appointment, patients can be easily located through the AeroScout MobileView platform. Since the patient's name is sent to their VOIP phone, the center's physicians also have the opportunity to greet patients immediately as they arrive for treatment. In addition, the center maximizes return on investment by planning for future upgrades and incorporating new technologies as they become available.

RFID Magazine named Disney Family Cancer Center the winner of the Most Innovative Use of RFID Award at the 8th Annual RFID Magazine Live Conference. This award honors the Disney Family Cancer Center:

A groundbreaking RFID system designed to reduce patient anxiety

Integrated solutions from leading technology providers improve workflow between clinicians, patients and hospital administrators

A solution architecture that addresses key areas of hospital operations and provides a platform for future growth

The RFID Journal Awards are presented annually to end-user companies that have distinguished themselves through the application of RFID technology. The purpose of this award is to recognize leaders in creating and deploying RFID solutions and to promote the adoption of RFID technology by highlighting innovative deployments. The Roy and Disney Family Cancer Center received the award for the most innovative use of RFID in the category.