Patient management is one of the most important and complex aspects of healthcare. It involves coordinating and optimizing care processes, from admission to discharge, including consultations, diagnostic tests, surgery, and follow-up care. Efficient and high-quality patient management has multiple benefits, both for the patients themselves and for healthcare professionals and hospital organizations.
However, patient management also faces many challenges and difficulties, such as overcrowded services, delays in care, human error, lack of information, or loss of resources. These problems can negatively affect patient safety, satisfaction, and outcomes, as well as the performance and profitability of hospitals.
To overcome these obstacles and improve patient management, it is necessary to have technological tools that facilitate the monitoring and control of care flows in real-time. Some of the most innovative and effective solutions are those with active RTLS (Real-Time Location System) technology, a real-time location system that identifies and monitors the location and movement of patients, staff, and equipment within the hospital environment.
What is Active RTLS and how does it work?
Active RTLS is a system that uses tags or electronic devices that emit radio frequency signals at regular intervals, allowing nearby receivers to detect their position in real-time. These tags can be worn by patients on their identification bracelets or embedded in medical equipment, while receivers can be installed on hospital ceilings.
Active RTLS collects and stores location data in a computer platform that processes and analyses it, generating useful information for patient management. This information can be displayed on screens or mobile devices, facilitating decision-making and communication between healthcare professionals.
Why is it essential for optimized patient management?
Implementing active RTLS-based solutions in a hospital environment can provide a number of significant benefits for patient management, including:
🔒 Improved safety and quality of care: it enables the status and location of patients to be known at all times, avoiding confusion, misplacement, or leakage. It also facilitates compliance with clinical protocols and infection prevention measures, reducing the risk of errors or complications.
🔄 Optimizes the flow of care: This technology makes it possible to monitor and control the flow of patients through the different areas of the hospital, identifying bottlenecks, delays, or deviations. This makes it possible to adjust the planning and allocation of resources, improve coordination between services and streamline care processes.
😊 It increases patient satisfaction: It contributes to improving patient experience and satisfaction by reducing waiting times, facilitating access to information, and offering more personalized and humanized care.
💰 Increases performance and profitability: It optimizes the use and maintenance of medical equipment by facilitating its location, inventory, and traceability. It also saves operational costs by reducing resource loss or theft and improving energy efficiency.
RTLS-based solutions for patient management in healthcare: Use cases
Active RTLS has multiple use cases in patient management, depending on the type and size of the hospital, as well as its objectives and needs. Some examples are:
🚑 Emergency management: it facilitates the efficient management of the emergency department by facilitating the identification, triage, and follow-up of patients, as well as the allocation of beds, boxes, and resources. This improves the quality and speed of care, as well as patient safety and satisfaction.
🔪 Surgical management: Enables optimal management of the surgical process by facilitating the location and movement of patients, staff, and equipment between the different areas of the surgical suite. This allows for improved planning and coordination of interventions, as well as improved patient safety and outcomes.
🛌 Hospitalization management: Enables efficient management of the hospitalization service by facilitating the location and monitoring of admitted patients, as well as the allocation and control of beds. This improves the quality and continuity of care, as well as patient safety and comfort.
Learn more about RTLS-based solutions:
RTLS vs. RFID: A decisive choice for efficient and accurate real-time healthcare management
The power of RTLS solutions built for healthcare
Revolutionizing patient care with RTLS + AI
