RTLS in Healthcare Overview Presentation presented at the PCD 2009 Fall Face-to-Face Monroe Pattillo

IT Infrastructure Planning Committee RTLS Characteristics RTLS is more than simply tags and tracking.RTLS is more than simply tags and tracking. –Tag types – passive (RFID) and active (battery powered locators) RTLS is an information resource for correlation and queryRTLS is an information resource for correlation and query RTLS makes use of a range of locating technologiesRTLS makes use of a range of locating technologies Not all RTLS technologies meet expectations for location information reliability or granularityNot all RTLS technologies meet expectations for location information reliability or granularity RTLS can be an indirectly integrated add-on technologyRTLS can be an indirectly integrated add-on technology

IT Infrastructure Planning Committee RTLS Information Involvement Not strictly use cases, more like what can occur and what role does RTLS information playNot strictly use cases, more like what can occur and what role does RTLS information play The classical involvements...The classical involvements... 1.Boundary / dwell / direct event without patient direct relationship Pump left the building (an equipment tracking event)Pump left the building (an equipment tracking event) Somebody pushed button on RTLS active locator tagSomebody pushed button on RTLS active locator tag Environmental boundary exceeded as detected by RTLS active tagEnvironmental boundary exceeded as detected by RTLS active tag 2.Correlation of available RTLS information with unrelated event PCD event occurred, add last known location of notifying staffPCD event occurred, add last known location of notifying staff 3.Pre-correlated non-RTLS event containing RTLS information PCD event occurred which included RTLS informationPCD event occurred which included RTLS information 4.Unrelated event resulting in RTLS query PCD event occurred, I need a pump, where is the closest one.PCD event occurred, I need a pump, where is the closest one.

IT Infrastructure Planning Committee RTLS Challenges Reliability and accuracyReliability and accuracy –How often is it required – ancillary or mandatory –How close is sufficiently useful – is floor and room sufficient Correlation to patients and staffCorrelation to patients and staff –RTLS tag as a piece of equipment to be assigned to patient –Correlation provided by RTLS vendor –Correlation provided by ACM/AM vendor

IT Infrastructure Planning Committee RTLS and Healthcare Standards At lease one RTLS solution provider can send HL7At lease one RTLS solution provider can send HL7 RTLS proposal briefRTLS proposal brief ACM includes a place for RTLS data to be includedACM includes a place for RTLS data to be included