Hospitals Track More Patients With RFID

TechWeb News
Sep. 21, 2005

Hospitals in Connecticut, Alabama and Pennsylvania are using Randianse Inc.'s RFID products to improve equipment management and patient and staff movement.

Randianse, of Lawrence, Mass., announced that it has installed its active RFID indoor positioning solution at Yale-New Haven Hospital to increase efficiency, enhance safety and reduce costs. It will cover nearly 1,000 pieces of medical equipment and managers, allowing convenient tracking with web-based searches. Later this year, the Connecticut hospital will add patient location, using a wrist-sized device.

PinnacleHealth Hospitals in Harrisburg, Pa., has installed the system for real-time patient location with time stamps to improve communication and efficiency. St. Vincent's Hospital in Birmingham, Ala., a member of Ascension Health, is also using the system to track some patients.

Dr. Craig Wisman, vice president of medical affairs for Pinnacle Health said in a statement released Tuesday that he strongly supports indoor positioning. He said it allows staff to find patients easily and determine whether they are prepared for medical procedures.

Radianse has installed similar systems in Massachusetts and Missouri.