7 Ways RTLS Improves Healthcare with Application Interoperability

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Tag: Patient Experience Improvement

7 Ways RTLS Improves Healthcare with Application Interoperability

Posted on by Waed Os

As the healthcare sector is continuously adopting new technologies to improve care, a careful examination of the effectiveness of digital advancements becomes imperative. Amid this review, the convergence of Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS), automation and application interoperability emerges as a transformative influence, redefining the operational landscape of healthcare facilities.

 

What is Interoperability in healthcare?

In healthcare, interoperability denotes the capacity of diverse information technology systems and software applications to communicate, exchange data, and utilize the

shared information efficiently. This involves the seamless sharing of health information among various healthcare systems, encompassing electronic health record (EHR) systems, medical devices, and other health information technologies.

 

The integration of location services

The incorporation of location, status and sensory data into existing technological frameworks is key for achieving improved operations in the healthcare sector. This integration serves as a central requirement, facilitating the efficient coordination of diverse components within the system. By strategically merging location data with pre-existing technological investments, healthcare facilities can optimize operational processes and enhance the experience of caregivers and patients.

 

With this foundational understanding, let’s delve into the pivotal role that RTLS plays within this framework. We will highlight the top 7 aspects of RTLS that affirm its significance within the broader context of interoperability and its transformative impact on healthcare operations.

 

1. Unified Integration Standards

The RTLS system should smoothly sync with and enhance the current technologies and IT infrastructure in healthcare settings. It ought to seamlessly meld into the existing IT framework, creating a fluid and engaging partnership with other technological components used in the healthcare facility. This ensures a seamless exchange of information among diverse healthcare systems, streamlining the often-tricky process of integrating data in healthcare environments

 

2. User-Friendly Adoption

Streamlining workflows becomes more than a convenience when RTLS applications can prioritize user-friendly features to accelerate adoption. By minimizing training periods and creating an environment favorable to technology acceptance, healthcare staff can efficiently incorporate RTLS into their routines, leading to increased productivity and satisfaction.

 

3. Resource Optimization

Beyond its location tracking capabilities, an effective RTLS solution addresses the challenge of resource optimization. By providing insights into asset utilization, staff allocation, and equipment availability, healthcare facilities can minimize unnecessary expenses, ensuring a more efficient allocation of resources.

 

4. Real-Time Patient Data Access

The automatic integration of location data with Electronic Health Records (EHR) is likely the most critical of all. This integration empowers healthcare providers with timely and accurate information, enabling them to make informed decisions promptly. By bridging the gap between RTLS and EHR, this approach enhances patient care and significantly contributes to more efficient and effective healthcare delivery. This advanced integration can also automatically populate billing and coding needs natively, saving administrative time and ensuring invoicing is accurate.

 

5. Facilitated Communication

Integrating functionalities such as nurse call systems and staff duress alerts with the RTLS network adds an additional layer of communication efficiency. This ensures that healthcare staff can promptly respond to patient needs or emergencies, further enhancing the overall responsiveness and effectiveness of healthcare delivery.

One study ¹ had showed that the majority of a nurse’s time, specifically 38.6% (equivalent to 214.2 minutes), was observed to be spent at the nurse station, with less than one-third (171 minutes) allocated in the patient room. This highlights an opportunity for RTLS to play a crucial role in optimizing a nurse’s time, redirecting their efforts towards more valuable actions.

 

6. Proactive Security Measures

In healthcare settings, RTLS systems should make security a top priority. They safeguard both staff and patient information, keep tabs on activities, and offer administrators improved visibility. This enhanced visibility empowers administrators to take proactive measures, ensuring comprehensive safety and adherence to data protection standards.

 

7. Strategic Investment

Viewing RTLS solutions as strategic investments involves aligning them with the long-term vision and goals of healthcare facilities. Beyond immediate gains, this approach considers the scalability, adaptability, and future-proofing of the technology, ensuring that the investment continues to add value as the healthcare landscape evolves.

 

 

Technology Talks: BLE 5.1 for Simplicity and Affordability

At the core of the user-friendly and cost-effective nature of RTLS applications lies Bluetooth Low Energy 5.1 (BLE). This technology not only guarantees technical robustness but also ensures compatibility with ease. BLE 5.1, with its array of versatile tags, minimal power consumption, and extensive compatibility, serves as the foundational element enabling RTLS applications to seamlessly integrate into healthcare settings. This harmonious integration is a testament to the interoperability facilitated by BLE 5.1, providing both technical excellence and adaptability within the healthcare environment.

SEE ALSO: https://penguinin.com/ultra-wideband-uwb-vs-bluetooth-low-energy-ble-5-1/

 

 

Penguin Location Service ™

In the realm of healthcare, the thoughtful application of real-time location tracking can make a significant impact on staff and patient safety, as well as operational efficiency. This is where Penguin steps into space, offering a thoughtful approach to healthcare. PenTrack, a family of products, is caringly designed to provide not just prompt but also cost-effective results. We offer the necessary hardware along with our advanced AI-powered location engine, ensuring efficiency and precision. Our solutions seamlessly integrate into physical and software environments with minimal disruption, aligning perfectly with diverse settings.

 

Discover the thoughtful future of healthcare with Penguin. Book your free consultation today: [email protected]

 

References 

1. Hendrick A, Chow M, Skierczynski B, and Lu Z. A 36-Hospital Time and Motion Study: How Do Medical-Surgical Nurses Spend Their Time? The Permanente Journal. 2008;12(3):25–34.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3408320/#B1

Patient Wayfinding – The National Guard’s Health Affairs (NGHA) in Saudi Arabia.

Posted on by Waed Os

PenguinIN announces the official launch of the Patient Wayfinding Dulani feature within the app of the National Guard’s Health Affairs (NGHA) in Saudi Arabia. This new addition aims to enhance the patient’s experience and reduce missed appointments, bringing a sense of satisfaction among patients and healthcare workers. 

Being part of the digital transformation journey for one of the largest medical cities in the MENA region fills PenguinIN with joy.

 

“ This comes as a sign of our commitment for the region and the Vision 2030,” expressed Ra’ed Nayfeh, PenguinIN’s Regional Business Development Director.

 

With more than 400,000 active users on the MNGHA Care App on both IOS and Android, the Dulani feature is a key addition and initial stats indicate just that.  This positive reception reflects the value it brings to healthcare accessibility in Saudi Arabia. 

The user-friendly Dulani feature empowers patients to take greater control of their healthcare journey. With its intuitive design and smart functionality, the Dulani feature ensures a hassle-free healthcare journey, and leaves patients more content with their overall experience. 

With the successful implementation of the “Dulani دلّني” service at NGHA Riyadh Campus, PenguinIN reaffirms its commitment to driving innovation in the healthcare industry. The technology represents a significant step towards digitizing healthcare services in Saudi Arabia and aligns with the nation’s vision of advancing its digital infrastructure.  

 

In conclusion, the launch of the Dulani feature marks an exciting milestone for PenguinIN. It signifies a significant step towards improved patient care and underscores PenguinIN’s dedication to transforming healthcare through innovative digital solutions. With optimism and eagerness, we look forward to the positive impact this advancement will have on healthcare accessibility and patient well-being in the region. 

 

About KAMC-RD:  

King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh (KAMC-RD) is renowned as one of Saudi Arabia’s most comprehensive healthcare medical cities. 

Learn more: NGHA website | Dulani App 

 

About our Partners, Cloud Solutions –  

Cloud Solutions stands as a prominent IT services provider with over 15 years of expertise catering to the demands of both public and private sectors in Saudi Arabia. 

Learn more: Cloud Solutions website 

 

About PenguinIN:  

PenguinIN is an Indoor Positioning solutions provider dedicated to transforming living and working spaces through digital innovation. With a focus on cutting-edge technologies and user-centric design, PenguinIN delivers solutions that empower organizations and enhance user experiences. 

Learn more about our PenNav technology 

Request a free consultation today and email us at: [email protected]  

Indoor Navigation Solutions for Patient-Centric Healthcare Experience

Posted on by Waed Os

In the pursuit of putting patients at the center of the healthcare experience, healthcare institutions confront the challenge of guiding individuals through their large, intricate buildings with multiple floors and interconnected sections. Even healthcare workers, whether they are temporary or long-serving staff, sometimes encounter difficulties navigating hospital facilities. However, it is often the patients who struggle the most with finding their way.

Historically, hospitals relied on conventional methods like signage and getting assistance from individuals at the front desk to address navigation issues. Nevertheless, these approaches had their limitations and didn’t consistently offer straightforward navigation solutions.

In today’s healthcare landscape, a noticeable transformation is underway. There is a growing emphasis on enhancing the patient’s journey through the adoption of smarter solutions. Contemporary healthcare facilities are incorporating technologies such as location data and user-friendly Bluetooth-enabled applications to assist patients, their families, and the staff.

 

Use-Cases for Indoor Navigation in Healthcare

Indoor navigation solutions in healthcare boast many use-cases, each contributing to a more efficient and patient-centric healthcare experience.

Seamless Patient Wayfinding: The most apparent use-case is guiding patients through the complex layout of hospitals. Real-time, step-by-step directions within a hospital app alleviate patient anxiety and ensure they reach their appointments or desired destinations without hassle.

Accessibility Enhancement: Indoor navigation empowers patients with mobility challenges by providing accessible routes and live updates. It promotes inclusivity, reducing anxiety and saving valuable time for individuals who require extra assistance.

Location-Based Messaging: In addition to wayfinding, indoor navigation apps can offer location-based services to create a more contextual patient journey. The apps can offer notification features to make suggestions and alert users when they get near a significant point of interest (POI).

Integration with Electronic Health Records (EHR): Indoor navigation solutions can integrate with a hospital’s Electronic Health Record (EHR) system. This allows patients to access their appointment details, medical history, and test results through the navigation app, providing a comprehensive healthcare experience in one place.

Emergency Preparedness: In critical situations like emergencies or Code Blue scenarios, indoor navigation equipped with Real Time Location Systems (RTLS) provides instant information on the nearest available personnel and proper emergency procedures. This timely response can make substantial results.

 

The Outcome of Indoor Navigation in Healthcare

The implementation of indoor navigation solutions yields both short-term and long-term outcomes, significantly enhancing the patient experience.

Short-Term Benefits:

  • Efficiency: Patients can navigate the hospital quickly, reducing their length of stay therefore contributing to reducing wait-times for other patients and reducing missed appointment rates.
  • Reduced Anxiety: The ease of finding their way decreases patient stress, improving their overall experience.
  • Enhanced Staff Productivity: Hospital staff will also be equipped with such navigating tools to reach their destinations at a quicker time and they can focus on patient care instead of providing directions, leading to better service.

Long-Term Outcomes:

  • Patient Loyalty: Enhanced patient experiences foster loyalty, with patients more likely to return for future healthcare needs.
  • Positive Reputation: Hospitals that prioritize patient experience through indoor navigation build positive reputations, attracting more patients.
  • Streamlined Operations: Over time, hospitals with efficient indoor navigation systems benefit from improved operational efficiency, scoring better HCAHPS scores, and guarantee compliance with top-standard programs.

 

Psychological Effects on Patients and Healthcare Staff

Indoor navigation solutions in healthcare exceed mere convenience; they have a profound impact on the psychological well-being of patients. One of the leading causes of in-hospital stress arises from their unfamiliarity with the surroundings [1]. While hospitals cannot entirely eliminate this unfamiliarity, they can offer a solution that promotes transparency. Providing patients with an outline of the facility and offering a step-by-step guide through it can undeniably alleviate this challenge.

Improved Staff Satisfaction: These solutions play a pivotal role in boosting the job satisfaction of healthcare staff, particularly newcomers to the team and those who are still in training.

– It was found that there is a positive association between education and a demand for navigation improvements, either through mobile applications or other ways. Respondents with tertiary education were more interested in navigation improvements and more willing to use mobile navigation applications. [2]

By providing a reliable means for staff members to confidently navigate intricate hospital environments and being relieved from the duty of guiding patients, these solutions effectively alleviate stress. This not only eases their transition but also grants them more time to focus on providing superior medical services and dedicating themselves to learning and training. Consequently, healthcare professionals experience increased job satisfaction, fostering an environment where they can excel in their roles and continually enhance their skills.

 

The ROI of Indoor Navigation in Hospitals

When evaluating the return on investment (ROI) for indoor navigation in healthcare, it’s essential to consider various financial aspects. Here, we outline key points to illustrate the financial advantages:

Cost Savings: Implementing indoor navigation technology significantly reduces operational costs associated with traditional physical signage. Healthcare facilities typically rely on costly physical signs and allocate staff to guide visitors. These expenses include initial sign creation, updates, printing maps, and maintaining staff for visitor inquiries. With digital navigation tools, these costs diminish significantly, as digital maps can be easily updated at no extra expense. This not only reduces the reliance on physical signs but also minimizes ongoing expenditures.

Improved Staff Efficiency: Beyond cost savings, indoor navigation technology enhances staff efficiency by automating the process of guiding patients and visitors. With digital navigation tools in place, healthcare personnel can allocate their expertise where it matters most—providing patient care and medical assistance. This reduction in staff time spent on giving directions and answering questions contributes to cost savings and allows healthcare professionals to focus on their core responsibilities.

Increased Revenue: Indoor navigation solutions enhance the overall patient experience. A more positive experience results in higher patient satisfaction, which in turn can lead to increased patient retention and referrals. These satisfied patients are more likely to return for future healthcare needs, thus contributing to higher revenue for the healthcare facility.

 

The Advantage of integrating Indoor Navigation Solutions with Existing Healthcare Systems

The integration of indoor navigation with various healthcare systems, including duress call, registration, and more, offers a comprehensive technical advantage. It streamlines data sharing and system compatibility, creating a unified healthcare environment. This automation enhances patient safety by expediting emergency responses and improves administrative efficiency by automating tasks like patient registration. Furthermore, it optimizes resource allocation and reduces operational costs. In essence, this technical integration fosters a cohesive healthcare ecosystem, benefiting both patients and hospital operations.

 

Indoor Navigation Technology: PenguinIN‘s BLE Beacon-Based Solution

When it comes to indoor navigation in healthcare settings, BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) solutions emerge as the preferred choice. By adhering to BLE standards and leveraging PenguinIN’s advanced algorithms, healthcare facilities can access state-of-the-art smart solutions. Let’s delve into the exceptional features of BLE technology.

Precision: BLE beacons offer excellent accuracy in tracking real-time positions, even within intricate and multifaceted structures. This precision ensures seamless navigation for users, with their location displayed accurately on the screen.

Efficiency: BLE solutions are renowned for their minimal power consumption, resulting in extended beacon lifespans and reduced maintenance requirements.

Scalability: BLE beacon networks can effortlessly expand to accommodate the evolving needs of healthcare facilities. This adaptability ensures a scalable solution that grows with the institution.

Compatibility & Mobile Usage: BLE technology seamlessly integrates with established hospital systems, thereby improving overall connectivity and promoting a unified healthcare environment. The versatility of BLE solutions extends to mobile phones, ensuring accessibility for a broad user base. Furthermore, many BLE applications are compatible with existing hospital apps, potentially driving increased downloads and engagement with local hospital applications.

Learn more: Do you want patients to download your hospital app?

Reduced Disruptions: Thanks to its low power consumption, BLE technology minimizes disruptions to healthcare services, ensuring continuous and uninterrupted care for patients.

 

As healthcare institutions increasingly prioritize patient-centric care, indoor navigation solutions are becoming valuable tools for improving the healthcare experience for both patients and staff. These solutions enable immersive features such as location-based messaging and data analysis, empowering healthcare administrators to make informed, data-driven decisions and gain valuable insights from the movements of personnel within the facility. Additionally, location-based messaging has the potential to enhance the educational processes in university hospitals, providing a multi-layered approach to improving healthcare services.

 

 

Get in Touch 

Among the diverse sectors we specialize in, PenguinIN provides a healthcare-focused indoor navigation system. Our PenNav indoor wayfinding solution seamlessly integrates with your hospital’s existing applications and overall IT systems. To schedule a personalized one-on-one session, please send a message to [email protected] today.