Real time tracking of healthcare assets using RFID (Radio Frequency Identification Device) technology is not a new concept. Items such as gurneys and wheelchairs are easily tagged and monitored. However, medical devices that need to be autoclaved have traditionally been left out of the RTLS (real time location system) market. This is because most RFID tag designs could not survive the sterilization process. Then, last year, Awarepoint began marketing autoclavable RFID tags for medical instrument tray tracking.
University of California San Diego (UCSD) Medical Center has been using this system ever since. In April of 2009, UCSD’s Director of Perioperative Services revealed that he believes many hospitals could realize an annual savings of $275,000 or more by using this technology.
It is important to track instrument trays because their use drives the number of procedures that can be performed over a given period of time. The application is especially valuable for controlling inventory and identifying where backlogs and other delays are occurring.
The cost associated with down time for surgical teams is high. Personnel still have to be paid while they sit around waiting for the sterile processing and distribution department to locate their equipment. A delayed or cancelled case can cause a back up of 2 to 3 hours and create a cascade effect throughout the remainder of the day.
Employees and patients are both negatively affected by constant rescheduling. Getting surgical procedures done on time helps reduce the need for staff to work overtime. This saves healthcare institutions in wages and cuts down on errors that occur when workers are fatigued. With the improved RFID, scheduling needs can be adequately met and any delay can be significantly minimized.
Being able to monitor the status of an instrument tray from an on-site computer significantly improves efficiency and can save lives. Equipment that is not being used can be quickly located in case of an emergency. This is especially important when something unanticipated occurs once surgery has already started.
Knowing exactly where these medical devices are at any given time is a cost saver for another reason as well. The contents of medical instrument trays often cost over $1,000 and can sometimes be worth as much as $100,000. It is easy to see why good inventory management is critical to any healthcare organization’s budget.
More About Awarepoint
Established in 2002, Awarepoint is headquartered in San Diego California. The company provides asset tracking service for hospitals across the entire United States with its exclusive partner Skytron. They market all parts of the network needed for proper monitoring. Real time Awareness Solutions ® (RTAS) includes firmware, RFID tags, sensors, and bridges. These collect raw data and transform it into useful positioning information that allows the efficient management of key assets.
Awarepoint and Skytron will jointly share booth #717 at the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) Conference & Expo this coming weekend at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, Maryland from June 6th through June 8th. If you are a member of AAMI, you already know the importance of good training and efficient equipment management. You also understand that the sterility of your instruments relies on the capabilities of your autoclave. If you are in the market for a sterilizer upgrade, let the research in our free report offer guidance and save you time.