Wifi Revolution

Siemens (News - Alert) and Airedale NHS Trust in West Yorkshire, England, are deploying a real time location system (RTLS) based on Ekahau technology. The RTLS system will not only streamline the workflow but it will also improve availability of intravenous (IV) pumps throughout the hospital.

 

The RTLS solution will help Airedale HNS Trust to track IV pumps across various buildings on the hospital campus by using the hospital's existing Wi-Fi network infrastructure and ID tags attached to each pump. Through this system the hospital aims to optimize use of medical devices within the hospital and identify future applications for tracking and tracing technology. Siemens Healthcare is reportedly leading the project.

 

Following the implementation of the RTLS system, the IV pumps can be tracked to within approximately 3 meters at any given moment. This will save the resources required to manually locate the devices. As the RTLS system will also streamline stock control, the hospital will ensure that pumps are available when needed and minimize the time taken to allocate a pump to a patient.

 

Rebecca Malin, IT project manager at Airedale NHS Trust pointed out that Airedale NHS Trust is leveraging its wireless network to generate operational benefits resulting from location services. Their use of RTLS will enable them to more efficiently use medical equipment and thus support their application of the LEAN process management methodology.

 

The Airedale HNS Trust project includes the provision of workflow consultancy working in partnership with the Trust's IT Department and LEAN Teams. In addition to the RTLS software, Wi-Fi tags from Ekahau (News - Alert) are also being used that work as any other standard Wi-Fi network-connected device, requiring no special configuration or additional readers.

 

Systems integrator Qolcom has been contracted to install the Siemens Healthcare WLAN network in the hospital. Qolcom will use Ekahau Site Survey tool to simply and easily ensure network signal strength for location tracking applications throughout the facility.

 

Dorothy Michel, head of Strategic Development for Healthcare at Siemens finds RFID an exciting technology that can be used in many ways to help Airedale NHS Trust deliver rapid and high standard of care to patients.

 

She explained that redesigning workflow also will help shape the entire healthcare organization into leaner process management. By working in partnership with the hospital's IT team they can also discover a wider array of opportunities for other uses of RTLS within the hospital environment.

 

 

Business Development Manager at Ekahau, Barry Read noted that being able to track highly portable items, such as IV pumps, will greatly improve workflow and productivity. The company’s Wi-Fi tags enable accurate, real-time tracking, while their software enables users to know the current and historic locations of assets throughout the facility.

 

 

 

 

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