Espirito Santo Saúde get tracking

One of Portugal’s largest private hospital groups has begun deployment of wireless real-time location services (RTLS) with a personnel Wi-Fi badge that enables two-way communication.

Hospitals of Espirito Santo Saúde (ESSAUDE), which consists of 15 healthcare units and 2 assisted living centres, has begun to deploy Ekahau’s, RTLS solution, including fixed Wi-Fi call-buttons and locatable communication badges for staff members

The Ekahau system’s primary functions are to enable mobile patients to call for a nurse, and emergency notification for staff members.

System integration of the complete solution is handled by Unisys, while the underlying Wi-Fi network is provided by Cisco Systems.

Ekahau says that its RTLS only requires the software and RTLS tags to enable asset and people tracking over any vendor’s standard Wi-Fi network.

In addition, Ekahau says that its RTLS tags are a secure solution that can co-exist on top of the Wi-Fi network like any other standard voice and data application, without interfering with network operation or critical medical equipment.

In Casas da Cidade, an assisted living senior centre, ESSAUDE is deploying fixed Ekahau call buttons that are attached on walls in rooms and hallways for residents to call help. Some of the residents also carry Ekahau wireless badges to call help when they are moving throughout the facility. Nurses then receive calls for service on their Ekahau badges as a display message with the resident’s location information.

In the acute Hospital da Luz, Ekahau wireless call buttons are placed in fixed locations, including in wards and rooms. When one of these buttons is pressed, the call for help is sent to Ekahau communication badges carried by staff members.

After receiving the alert and reading the emergency location information on his or her badge, the staff member can promptly respond to the request. In addition, nurses and doctors also can call for help themselves by pulling the emergency switch on their own badge.

Also in the hospital, critical mobile hospital equipment – such as IV pumps, wheelchairs and vital sign monitors – are being equipped with Ekahau asset tags.

By knowing the exact location of these devices at any given time, the hospital is able to increase efficiency of asset utilization and to improve the maintenance process.

“The ability to quickly locate the right clinical staff, having the capability to send two-way messages between team members and employ real-time asset tracking, are all becoming essential system components for operational efficiency in a busy hospital,” said Mr. David Vieira, chief technology officer at ESSAUDE.

He added: “We expect Ekahau’s wireless RTLS solution to greatly enhance the safety and quality of care, as well as our patient’s overall satisfaction throughout the ESSAUDE hospitals.”

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Ekahau

Unisys