The COVID-19 pandemic served as a stark reminder of our vulnerability to global health crises. RFiD Discovery, renowned for providing real-time tracking solutions in the healthcare sector, has responded by revealing their groundbreaking Automated Contact Tracing for Infection Control solution. This advanced technology is poised to revolutionize infection prevention in hospitals, featuring capabilities to promptly identify potential exposure events, thereby assisting infection control teams in curbing the spread of healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs).
Annually, HCAIs impact millions of patients around the world, resulting in extended hospital stays, elevated mortality rates, and a significant burden on clinical resources. Traditional manual contact tracing processes have proven cumbersome and prone to gaps, particularly in challenging clinical surroundings. The new solution by RFiD Discovery addresses these challenges head-on, by automating the collection of precise proximity data, thereby amplifying efficiency and informing agile decision-making during infection incidents.
RFiD Discovery’s general manager, Arron Duddin emphasized that having access to the correct data swiftly is pivotal for effective infection control. Their automated contact tracing solution equips infection prevention teams with transparent visibility of interactions between patients, staff, and hospital assets, empowering rapid responses, risk reduction, and the preservation of safer hospital environments.
A central feature of the solution is the implementation of Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology. Patients are equipped with BLE wristbands, while staff carry BLE-enabled ID badges. The system diligently logs when individuals or tagged assets come into close contact, recording information such as duration, distance, time, and location without necessitating manual data entry. BLE gateway readers, combined with strategically positioned anchors throughout hospital facilities, collate and transmit this critical location and proximity data into a central platform.
This platform offers a comprehensive suite of tools, including real-time alerts, visual dashboards, and detailed reports. In the event that an individual is identified as infected, infection control teams can expediently identify potential exposure events, interaction locations, and areas that might necessitate targeted cleaning or more in-depth review. This cutting-edge solution is engineered to complement existing hospital infrastructure seamlessly, enabling use as a base system or an extension to support wider real-time location services, including asset tracking and patient flow optimization.
Source: https://futureiot.tech/new-automated-contact-tracing-solution-enhances-patient-safety-in-hospitals/