Greenville Hospital deploys integrated RFID solution for operating room asset tracking

Heavy duty RFID portal for OR linen cart egress to laundry and clean room. The egress portal includes RFID Readers and antennas for reading tagged devices, such as $35,000 to $50,000 surgical instruments (probes) that, due to their small size, can get lost among bulky linens and scrubs or in the trash. Now, when tagging items - for example "saving time and increasing productivity" are significant advantages of this system. Since we implemented the Healthcare and RFID portal, no tagged devices have been lost..."

Executive Director, Materials Services, University Medical Center, Greenville Hospital System Greenville Hospital Deploys Integrated RFID solution for Operating Room Asset Tracking Case Study Probes or other surgical Tools - the portal reads, sounds an audible alert and flashes a red light before the device is mistakenly discarded Alert the OR waiter who finds and retrieves the device. Data collected from this automated process helps hospital management continually improve activities related to asset preparation and use.

In addition, Greenville Hospital is deploying UHF RFID readers throughout its main facility, leveraging Healthcare Solutions’ combined RTLS and UHF RFID capabilities to track nearly 5,000 pieces of mobile medical equipment, such as infusion pumps. RFID portals, card readers and RTLS tracking technology are integrated through the app to enable employees to know not only the location of tagged devices, but also their importance, status, usage efficiency and usage history.

The RFID system provides Greenville employees with handheld computers and application software that can locate and map any type of tagged asset and then track it through RTLS technology and card readers. From this combination of location and utilization information, the system generates customized reports detailing asset usage and history. RFID systems also provide hospital management with efficiency reports related to the processes and resources used to provide medical services related to tagged assets.

"We had a limited budget, we wanted to leverage the existing Cisco wireless network, and we didn't want to be locked into anything that might be outdated," Mateka said. "Now that the system is in place, authorized hospital staff can access the RFID application via a web browser or mobile computing device and locate any type of tagged device. RTLS technology and/or egress portals track everything in the OR at all times through our Information forwarded by 802.11b wireless networks. Users can select some or all of the items found and view the items on a display map with location, object description and photo."

"OR boxes must be sterile and readily available, providing staff with visibility of all carts, including status, location and case assignment," said Dr. George Mendenhall. "Authorized hospital personnel can also pass contaminated Cart storage, decontamination and disinfection, perioperative staging and case staging areas monitor every stage of equipment flow. This automated visibility into case cart processes and other types of support processes reduces the need for searching for equipment and manual Documenting the time spent on a process saves valuable staff time. This visibility also increases program throughput and automates the documentation process for analysis and continuous improvement."

patient safety

In addition to ensuring Greenville Hospital was able to track tagged assets within the OR and throughout its facilities, a key consideration was ensuring that the RFID technology selected would not interfere with any medical equipment or existing IT infrastructure.

“In accordance with procedure, the hospital conducted its own independent testing to ensure that the system would not interfere with any other hospital equipment, including all electronic medical equipment used in operating rooms. We also conducted a study to ensure that the UHF RFID portal would not cause any issues with the pacemaker, or jeopardize patient safety. Our formal testing gives us the confidence to safely deploy active and passive tags and readers in all areas of the hospital for daily use," said Mateka.

result

Mateka expects a return on investment within a year, given the hospital's labor savings, loss prevention, physician satisfaction and increased productivity. “Time savings and increased productivity are important benefits of this system. Since we implemented the Healthcare and RFID portal, no tagged devices have been lost in the bin. Ultimately, we also hope to be able to reduce losses through reduced losses and our utilization history reporting Our equipment purchases,” he said.

With the success of the system, the Greenville hospital system is working together to expand the solution to other areas of campus to track other critical care equipment.