RTM Engineering Consultants understands that healthcare facilities are among the most complex structures to build; the systems to support them require specialized knowledge and expertise. Our team leverages years of experience to advise healthcare clients on which systems can best provide operational efficiencies and bolster patient satisfaction.
For example, nurse tracking technology has been shown to streamline hospital workflows while improving patient satisfaction. Read below for a high-level overview of this technology and how we have seen it benefit patients, nurses, and hospital administrators.
How is the hardware installed and how does it produce data?
Typically installed behind hospital identification badges for nurses and patient care staff, tracking chips activate a receiver when a staff member enters a patient’s room. As the chip tracks traffic patterns and time management, it turns the information into diagrams and charts that are used to find workflow efficiencies. The system provides valuable and detailed data including a patient’s age, gender, and how much of a nurse’s time they may require.
According to RTM Associate Matthew Zega, P.E., RTM’s electrical engineers partner with hospital administrators and architects to design implementation solutions. “From verifying system requirements and following manufacturer guidelines to ensure proper installation, our team has hands-on experience working with contractors to implement the design and problem solve issues, should any arise,” notes Zega.
How does the technology benefit patients?
With healthcare moving towards more personalized patient care, a technology such as this allows caregivers to have access to vital information, right at their fingertips. Having immediate access to personalized information, such as medication, dosage, and upcoming appointments, allows for more comprehensive care and gives everyone peace of mind.
Additionally, optional system features include displaying the name, job title, and photo of patient care staff members on screens within care rooms so the patients and their family members can become familiar with the staff, creating warmer and more personal relationships.
How does the technology benefit nurses?
Although data from the knowledge-sharing system has been used to train new nurses, it also can help seasoned professionals increase their efficiency. Nurses have come to realize its importance in improving the way they work and how it helps to better serve patients. Another feature of the system allows nurses to review patient data, pulled by the technology, at their workstations before entering a patient’s room to evaluate and assess a patient’s immediate needs.
The technology also reduces the amount of time nurses spend looking for other patient care staff because of the chip’s impeccable ability to track movement within a building. Quickly locating assets and supplies via smart tags serves as another benefit.
How does this benefit hospital administrators?
Nurse tracking technology provides hospital administrators with important operational data. From analyzing patient flow and traffic patterns to evaluating department capacity and ER wait times, nurse tracking data is an important tool to help hospital administrators create efficiencies and, ultimately, deliver better patient care.
Hospital administrators can utilize charts, graphs, and the valuable data pulled by the technology to make business decisions as it relates to staffing needs based on patient care demands throughout the year.
Click here to learn more about RTM’s healthcare engineering expertise or contact a member of our team to learn if a nurse tracking system is right for your facility.