Philips launches RFID asset-tracking solution for hospitals
14 December 2006 Andover, Mass. USA. The Medical Systems division of
Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) has announced the launch of
an RFID tag-based asset-tracking system for hospitals. The tags, which can
be attached to most mobile assets, transmit to a wireless network. The
location of each item is tracked and can be portrayed on a map, or in a
table or report format for viewing by any networked hospital user.
Using standard 802.11 Wi-Fi technology by AeroScout Inc., the
asset-tracking system can be used with a hospital's existing wireless
infrastructure. It can be custom designed for each hospital to help solve
problems such as productivity, regulation requirements, utilization, theft,
and loss.
“Asset tracking addresses many of the perennial problems that modern
hospitals face,” said Yuval Bar-Gil, CEO of AeroScout. “This solution will
enable Philips’ customers to optimize their asset utilization, meet JCAHO
compliance requirements, and help to improve hospital efficiencies” The
first customer for the system is the University Medical Center (UMC) in
Tucson, Ariz. This installation is one of the healthcare industry’s largest
Wi-Fi-based asset-tracking projects, covering eight floors and a million
square feet with 2,300 tagged assets in use throughout the hospital.
Hospital staff members use the Philips solution to track and manage
equipment such as infusion pumps, beds, monitors, wheelchairs and other
portable devices. “While it is an obvious benefit to staff who spend
numerous hours searching for equipment, Philips asset tracking solution is
so much more than finding equipment,” said Tom Kirkland vice president,
customer services, for Philips Medical Systems. “With the information that
is gathered through the asset-tracking solution, asset utilization, work
flow efficiencies, and staff productivity can be improved.” “Asset
tracking allows users to maximize the resources they have and to make
smarter decisions about what they need going forward. Visibility of location
and awareness of building trend history over time means both staff
satisfaction in the short term and staff efficiencies in the long term” said
Kirkland. To top
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