Real Time Locating Systems (RTLS) Benefit Healthcare Providers By Bert Moore, AIM Global
Written by Bert Moore, director of communications, AIM Global
AIM Global, the trade association for the Automatic Identification and Mobility industry, is the source for technically accurate, unbiased, commercial-free, and up-to-date information on all AIM technologies. For additional information, please visit www.aimglobal.org.
No one needs to tell you that hospitals are busy — sometimes hectic — places. Patients, doctors, staff and equipment are continually on the move. Locating people and especially equipment can be a time-consuming and frustrating task. That's where Real Time Locating Systems (RTLS) can help.
Although attention has been given to the use of RFID for patient wrist bands, employee ID cards and other short-range applications to identify people and items, not as much attention has been given to locating equipment such as wheelchairs and gurneys, infusion pumps, and other vital pieces of equipment that may be needed on the floor or in the OR.
RTLS (Real Time Locating Systems) continuously determine and track the real-time location of assets and personnel using active RFID transponders. LLS (Local Locating Systems) is a particular type of RTLS, designed to track objects in a constrained indoor or outdoor area. LLS readers are installed at key locations within a facility. Tags typically broadcast their identity on a periodic basis (which can be programmed to be several seconds, minutes or even hours). Generally, a tag will be in range of two or more readers that can then estimate the tag's range from each reader and therefore determine its location with enough precision to enable personnel to visually locate the item.
Some RTLS use WiFi (Wireless LAN) access points as readers. For these systems, location is less precise because a tag may only be within range of one reader. Thus, only the item's general location can be reported — that is, that a tag is within range of a specific access point. For some applications, this offers adequate precision. WiFi RTLS can also be used to locate notebook computers, PDAs and other equipment that has integrated WiFi radios.
Many healthcare organizations are turning to RTLS as a way to maximize the use of existing capital equipment, minimize lost or stolen assets, increase the productivity of their employees, and ensure the highest quality of patient care.
RTLS can be used to quickly and automatically identify, find and track valuable assets — and to ensure those assets remain in the facility. Manual records might show, for example, that there a hospital has three portable x-ray machines — but not where they are. With RTLS, it is possible to know that one is in an OR, one is in the ER, and one is out of service in the maintenance department. This saves valuable time looking for the closest available machine.
Using RTLS tags on wheelchairs and gurneys can also help keep track of patients. By associating a patient's wristband ID (whether bar code or RFID) with the RTLS tag's ID, the patient can be tracked as he or she is transported within the facility.
RTLS can also help find staff members. At critical times, finding doctors, nurses, orderlies, or patients without delay is a challenge. Key personnel can be provided with RTLS tags so that they can be instantly located.
RTLS can also help address security and patient safety issues. Certain patients — such as those under psychiatric care, Alzheimer's victims, patients with highly communicable diseases, patients under protective custody, or newborn babies — require extra measures to ensure their safety and the safety of staff. RTLS tags can be used to trigger alarms if the wearer leaves the authorized or "safe" perimeter.
Finally, RTLS can help you find one of your most valuable commodities — time. Personnel don't have to waste their time looking for things. They'll know precisely where everything is.