N.J. medical center tracks equipment and patients
Saint Michael’s Medical Center in Newark, N.J., is using IBM’s real-time locating services, along with Sonitor Technologies’ infrastructure to track medical equipment and ensure compliance with patient safety regulations.
The system will initially track more than 2,000 pieces of equipment including heart monitors, infusion pumps and ventilators using ultrasound receivers and tagging technology from Sonitor Technologies. The tags send an identification signal to receivers without the risk of interference with other patient care equipment.
The system will alert staff when equipment leaves assigned areas, when availability is running low, or if a crash carts sits in the hallway too long.
The solution from IBM and Sonitor Technologies will allow caregivers to spend more time providing patient care and less time looking for the equipment they need.
The system automates supply orders without the need for staff intervention, such as requesting additional infusion pumps when the number of clean pumps drops to only two.