Improving Patient Outcomes and ROI With RFID

In September 2012, the Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance (Texas Health Alliance), in Fort Worth, Texas, opened its doors with a vision for using real-time location system (RTLS) technology throughout the organization. One of Texas Health Alliance’s sister hospitals had been using a similar solution, and Texas Health Alliance’s parent company, Texas Health Resources, opted to install a similar, but expanded RTLS solution at the Fort Worth site. Coupled with innovative operational models, the RTLS was integrated with other hospital systems in order to maximize technology capabilities. The hospital has 58 inpatient beds, 15 rooms in the emergency department, and various other outpatient services, including an ambulatory surgery center (ASC). One of the solution’s greatest benefits is that it helps caregivers locate and allocate assets quickly, thereby enabling them to spend more time serving patients. In addition, the patient-locating function makes it possible to automate the discharge process, as well as find patients for friends and family, while the personnel-locating capability enables the system to identify which staff members have been within the vicinity of an infectious patient, as well as utilizing location data to automate communications important to patient care. Learn how the system is being used to optimize equipment utilization, automate non-value-added tasks, and improve the patient experience.