Real Time Location Systems and Asset Tracking: New Horizons for Hospitals

Abstract

Healthcare organizations are faced with surging costs and a complex technological landscape, which can make justifying expenditures for infrastructure, equipment, and technology resources more challenging than even a few years ago. Yet new tools are evolving that enable healthcare organizations to deliver better patient care with more efficient workflow and better inventory control in a more cost-effective way. One such tool is the emergence of sensor and data distribution networks for automated equipment tracking. However, understanding the nature of different location technologies is essential for harnessing their potential— and for justifying the expense to administrators. This article differentiates between radio frequency identification (RFID) and real time location system (RTLS) technology from both a biomed and an information technology (IT) professional’s needs, and demonstrates how these technologies gather hard data to make tough strategic decisions that can result in both hospital-wide capital expense reductions and process improvements.