Todd NesnickThe healthcare industry is dynamic, fast-paced, and full of complexity. Hospital and healthcare personnel’s first responsibility is guaranteeing patients easy access to high-quality medical care. As a result, they need to have everything in its correct position and working order to respond quickly in an emergency.
To accomplish their goals, departments and medical teams need to use their assets well and keep track of them properly. Thanks to Real-Time Location Systems, health personnel are better equipped to do this. An RTLS tracks the whole organization and its assets in real-time, among other advantages.
What exactly is a real-time location system?
A Real-Time Location System allows for the rapid monitoring and tracking of patients who play casino games online, medical devices, and personnel in a variety of healthcare settings. This technology allows for real-time tracking of people and things from afar. Several industries, including healthcare and marketing, have found success with RTLS.
This system is gaining popularity because of its potential to enhance healthcare services while also generating higher returns on investment. The rising level of competitiveness in the healthcare market also contributes to an increase in the use of a Real-time Location System. However, while RTLS’s widespread adoption is increasing, it has also been hampered by different issues, including concerns over privacy and data security.
Benefits of RTLS in medical care
When it comes to tracking people and objects in real-time, RTLS technology provides more than just that. It also provides insights based on data that administrators may use to better their operations and the quality of treatment provided to patients. Furthermore, a return on investment (ROI) has been documented by many hospitals employing this technology.
The most outstanding advantages of an RTL system are as follows.
1. Contributes to the efficacy of healthcare systems
Many healthcare businesses can benefit significantly from automated workflows as well as asset tracking. For instance, an RTLS solution can be set up to notify staff members whenever a hospital room is filled, allowing for more streamlined patient intakes.
Wearable Internet of Things devices in healthcare facilities aid in tracking patients’ whereabouts, keeping track of their cases, and analyzing data. Providers and physicians can gain insights and updates from data, allowing them to make life-saving decisions more quickly and improve patients’ experiences in the process.
2. Savings
By implementing Real-Time Location Systems, hospitals can save a lot of money. This would stem from increased productivity and better asset tracking and maintenance. They also have the necessary capacity to help and care for more patients, which in turn increases revenue for the facility.
3. Better utilization of already-existing facilities
RTLS makes some medical assets available on demand, in addition to helping hospitals avoid frivolous expenditures. Managers can keep tabs on machinery and learn when and how each is employed.
Real-time location systems and associated software help identify which machinery or medical device pieces need cleaning or fixing. This helps hospitals reduce wasteful redundant work and save money. They are also able to do this while putting patient safety first.
4. Puts an end to misappropriation and theft of assets
The majority of a hospital’s operating budget typically goes toward renting necessary medical equipment. Not shockingly, the misplacement of medical equipment is prevalent during the transfer process between hospitals. Thanks to Real-Time Location Systems, high-value medical equipment and supplies can now be located just as quickly as standard supplies.
Healthcare administrators receive instant updates whenever equipment enters or leaves a particular area of their building. Theft is also avoided, which is a significant concern for health facilities whenever high-priced or rare machinery is involved.
5. Protects both the patients and medical personnel
RTLS is especially useful in large, multi-story hospitals and ERs. Some RFID tags, for instance, come equipped with discreet push buttons that enable hospital staff to raise alerts in the event of violent occurrences.
Imagine your patients have appointments that will take them to several different buildings. If that’s the case, RTLS will help with patient flow because it will allow medical staff to send patients to their respective hospital floors more precisely. Using Real-Time Location Systems and Internet of Things devices, facilities can also track down needed nurses in real-time.
Finally, these technologies help doctors quickly locate patients’ infusion gear and monitoring equipment, which enhances efficiency and care.
6. Optimizes scheduling for medical personnel
Today’s RTLS technology allows hospitals to make better use of their staff resources. Information gathered can reveal door-to-door metrics for different emergency rooms and show patient throughput or wait times.
Increased institutional transparency allows management to recognize which units or locations require additional resources and spot emerging patterns.
What prevents healthcare facilities from embracing RTLS?
Despite widespread encouragement to embrace Real-Time Location System technology in healthcare, many obstacles hinder healthcare teams from adopting it. Cost, time, legality, fear, complexity, and usefulness have been highlighted as six of the most significant impediments to the use of this technology.
Conclusion
The Real-Time Location System has considerable potential for application in the healthcare industry. From improved ROI to increased output, the industry stands to benefit immensely from this solution. Those working in healthcare administration or related fields should definitely consider adopting RTLS.