DCC RFID Project featured in RFID Journal

RFID Journal featured the University of Miami UM-JMH Center for Patient Safety’s pilot project to monitor hand hygiene compliance with RFID. To learn more, click on the headline below, or Download the PDF Version Here.

Patient-Safety Center Tests RFID-enabled Hand Sanitizers

The system, designed to decrease the number of patient infections, warns health-care providers if they fail to properly wash up before treating a patient. Dynamic Computer Corp utilized Versus Technology's patented IR-RF sensors for the solution.

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Microsoft's Senior Director of Worldwide Health touts the benefits of sensor-based health IT solutions.

Bill Crounse, MD Senior Director of Worldwide Health for Microsoft has posted a blog on the benefits of sensor-based locating technologies in health care. The blog post highlights Vision(TM) one of the solutions we offer by Versus Technology.

In his post, Crounse states that there is far more to be gained by looking beyond the EMR for innovative ways to use IT in the health care realm.

Here are a couple of excerpts from the posting, which can be accessed in its entirety here.

"To say that I was impressed by [Versus]'s work and growing body of customer evidence would be an understatement."

"If you are not planning for the use of this technology in your hospital or clinic, you are missing a huge opportunity to lower costs, increase revenues and deliver better, more satisfying care."

To learn more about VISion or for general information on sensor-based tracking solutions in healthcare for enterprise visibility, visit DynamicRFIDSolutions.com or Contact Us.

To read Dr. Crounse's entire post, visit his blog here.

Tight Budget? Spend Wisely! NAHIT survey reveals more cuts.

Modern Healthcare.com featured an article today entitled: Many hospitals will cut IT budgets, staff in '09: NAHIT. Here is an exerpt discussing what hospital executives reported:

"More than half, 55%, of the executives surveyed said their hospitals were experiencing delays in access to capital, and most, 74%, are delaying or extending the timeline on capital projects. More than half, 57%, said they are deferring IT equipment purchases and 52% said they are extending timelines for implementing health IT initiatives, according to the National Alliance for Health Information Technology. The Chicago-based alliance released a report of the survey results."

This news demonstrates why HIT is so critical. Budgets are already tight and these tough economic times and are expected to “get worse before they get better” according to President-Elect Obama’s recent statements. As resources dwindle in terms of human capital and funding, hospitals need to look to health care IT solutions to improve productivity and to help create more efficient processes.

EHRs and E-Prescriptions are not the whole answer to the problem. A change in the culture of America’s hospitals must happen to improve patient care, reduce costs and reduce risks across the board. Advanced health care IT solutions, like Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), to automate information gathering and distribution to the proper systems on the location of hospital assets, inventory, staff & patients, medications, lab samples and so forth.

This type of automation allows clinicians to be patient-centered, and eliminates human error, among its other benefits. The cost of operating hospitals is significantly reduced when staff are more productive and assets are easily located. Costly legal issues are also avoided with the additional decrease in risks and “never events,” ensuring that hospitals can count on compensation from payers -- who are increasingly refusing to pay for hospital-acquired conditions.

While infrastructure for advanced health care IT solutions requires an initial investment, the case studies have shown rapid ROI and long-term cost savings. Less money for IT should induce wiser spending moving forward.

For more information on RFID solutions for health care, contact Ralph Wagner at 866-257-2111 or rwagner@dcc-online.com.

Learn why you should use an RFID Integrator.

Integrated Solutions magazine published an article this week explaining the value in working with an integrator vs. niche solution provider.

The author likened an integrator to the functions of servers and chefs in the restaurant industry:

"Think of RFID in a restaurant scenario. Companies desiring a seat at the RFID table can order from a vast menu of hardware, middleware, and software components. When you have a meal at a restaurant, you don’t place an order with the steak provider, another with the lobster farm, and another with a vineyard. You place an order with the server, and the chef prepares the meal to your specifications. In the RFID world, you can use an integrator much like you would your server and chef in the restaurant scenario. An RFID integrator can listen to your goals and objectives, make recommendations, then design a solution that meets your specifications."

I think this is a great analogy because it provides a clear picture of the way integrators work within the industry. It is often not immediately clear to organizations who are looking to incorporate RFID into their processes, why they should work through what they view as a "middle-man" to the niche hardware and/or software providers themselves.

Dynamic Computer Corporation provides RFID solutions designed for health care environments. We have specialized knowledge of the processes and challenges endemic to hospitals and health care facilities through our 30 years experience designing IT solutions for health care entities.

We continually evaluate the "menu" of hardware, middleware, software and tags available in the RFID market, carefully selecting and partnering with companies that have components that offer the best QUALITY, VALUE and FUNCTIONALITY for the health care environment. Our neutrality in terms of technology allows us to learn about the needs of the customer and determine what the best combination of "ingredients" will best meet those needs. A mix of technologies is often the best solution, and like the Integrated Solutions piece explains -- it makes much more sense to allow the chef to order and combine the various ingredients for your meal rather than "[placing] an order with the steak provider, another with the lobster farm, and another with a vineyard."

All health care organizations continually strive to improve patient care, reduce costs and reduce risks -- while operating costs and demand increasingly rise and resources are more and more limited across the board. Allowing Dynamic Computer to work with you and its partners to: first, examine your needs carefully and complete a thorough site survey and readiness assessment, and secondly, to design the best RFID solution to address whatever "pains" you are experiencing, will result in a carefully planned, tested and easily scalable RFID foundation.

It is not proprietary, and therefore is quite flexible and easily expanded as the ROI, that you no doubt will rapidly realize, permits. The RFID infrastructure you will need to scale out your applications, or include other types of tracking applications will be in place, whether or not you choose to work with Dynamic again in the future.

As our 30 year history providing IT solutions and our 90-plus rate of repeat business illustrates, the relationships we build with our partners and customers are valuable. We strive for 100% customer satisfaction with each client, and operate with forthright business practices. Chances are, after tasting our menu you will again patronize our restaurant and allow us to serve you.

Learn more about Dynamic Computer Corporation as an RFID Solutions provider for health care. Our RFID Solutions Manager, Ralph Wagner, is available by phone at 866-257-2111 x102, or via email at rwagner@dcc-online.com.

President Obama, Health Care and RFID

Now that the voters have selected Barack Obama to be the next president, we can expect him to move forward with his health plan after inauguration. What could that mean for the health care IT industry? What does RFID have to offer to help improve health care and America’s hospitals in this age of cuts, and more cuts to funding, resources and increased demand? I have a few thoughts on the subject…

One of the ways Obama has posited that he will reduce the costs of health care by $2500 per year per family, is to provide health care IT subsidy[1]. This is an excellent opportunity for health care providers to implement and RFID solution to improve patient care, reduce costs and minimize risks. Through the visibility RFID offers, health care facilities can innovatively create more efficient and productive operations with a mechanism for accountability.

Tomorrow’s blog posting will talk in more detail about how RFID will help improve the health care system, and specifically answer the concerns that some skeptics have about the detrimental effects of Obama’s health plan (as it relates to health care IT in particular) on hospital’s finances.

Real-time visibility of assets and transparency of processes will enable an economical advantage that will save money and make money across the board. At the same time, customer service will improve, satisfaction of patients, staff and physicians will improve, errors will be reduced and many other advantages will be realized.

Asset tracking and management, inventory management, patient and staff tracking, medication tracking and lab & sample tracking are they key areas where RFID will revolutionize health care practices.

Contact Dynamic at 866-257-5111 if you would like to learn more about the benefits of a scalable RFID solution from DCC. RFID demo tours are available and our knowledgeable staff will help you calculate the ROI for your particular application.

[1] Obama's plan would also reduce costs by managing disease, federalizing certain health claims and stimulating competition in the industry.

(Photo digitally altered. Downloaded from BarackObama.com)

Response: Report on infection-control plan still in works

In response to Report on infection-control plan still in works, Posted on November 3, 2008 in Modern Healthcare:

One of the initiatives of the groups should be to assess and recommend health care IT best practices that positively impact infection-control plan compliance. Results from those who have utilized technology creatively to foster safe practices show that it works.

As noted recently in a H&HN article, handwashing campaigns are largely ineffective as compliance rates are still only about 50 percent. Surveillance methods are necessary to address the problem.

Hospital executives and infection control practitioners should consider IT solutions to foster a culture of safety. RFID solutions in particular have demonstrated the ability to improve patient safety by tracking and visibility into realtime compliance with adopted policies and procures. Additionally, it puts a uniform mechanism in place for shared accountability and transparency.

The ROI is apparent in this type of technology, as the cost of HAIs surpasses 5 billion dollars annually. A simple, but effective, RFID solution can start as low as $15,000 and yield immediate results through improved patient safety, reduction in costs and minimization of risks.

RFID also offers the added benefit of interoperability with currently used systems and infrastructure, from enhancing bar-coding systems already in place to automatic notifications, billing and updates to EHRs and other patient information systems that bridge communication across the continuum of care.

Another added value of RFID for this purpose is that it is easily scalable and adaptable for other tracking purposes -- like inventory management, asset tracking, medication tracking and lab & sample tracking.

HHS should evaluate RFID more closely for recommendation, as the benefits will trickle down as well as up -- improving satisfaction rates of patients and staff, as well as reducing HAIs and ADEs which cost gov't billions of dollars.

We have to start thinking innovatively about how to approach age-old problems like infection control with evidence-based practices supported by healthcare IT.

Download PDF on Preventing HAIs with RFID

DCC provides RFID solutions for health care together with Change Management Support (CMS) to facilitate education, communication and transparency throughout the RFID adoption process.Our scalable RFID solutions improve patient care, reduce costs, minimize risks and are interoperable with your existing systems.

Baby Tracking with RFID

Infant tracking with RFID is becoming more and more common as hospitals in today’s competitive environment realize the benefits. At the same time, they can give parents the peace of mind that their babies are safe at all times. (PDF)

RFID can answer the following questions in real-time:

Where is the baby?

• Ensures that each baby stays in secured locations by strategically locating RFID readers
at doorways and elevators . When a baby’s RFID signal is picked up by a reader in a restricted
area, the system notifies the staff and security in addition to locking down all doors in the facility.
• Can determine whether baby is in the mother’s room, the nursery, etc.

Who is in contact with the baby?

• RFID can provide visibility as to the contact each baby has with any number of individuals,
including clinical staff, parents and visitors. It can establish this using the associations of more than
one RFID tag being picked up by the same reader at the same time.

What treatment and medications has each baby received? Who were the attending clinicians? When was the treatment provided, etc?

• Using RFID, the chain of contact and location is established and continuously tracked for each
child during their time in the hospital.

Through this one application of a patient
tracking solution, hospitals will:

IMPROVE PATIENT CARE
• Improve Customer Service
• Ensure Positive Identification
• Integrate information with EHR
• Track babies’ contact with staff
• Monitor babies’ treatment and results

REDUCE COSTS
• Avoid legal ramification of parent trauma
• Eliminate medical errors and ADEs

MINIMIZE RISK
• Prevent child abduction
• Prevent identification errors
• Avoid non-authorized contact with babies

And once the infrastructure is in place, it is easy and relatively inexpensive to expand the tracking capabilities to include other patients, assets, inventory, medication and lab specimens – and virtually anything else.

Dynamic also provides Change Management Support for staff during the transition to RFID. We understand that change is difficult and want to make it as easy as possible for staff to adapt to the
enhanced and streamlined processes.

Call Ralph Wagner, RFID Solutions Manager, for more information at (866) 257-2111.

DCC provides RFID solutions for health care together with Change Management Support (CMS) to facilitate education, communication and transparency throughout the RFID adoption process.
Our scalable RFID solutions improve patient care, reduce costs, minimize risks and are interoperable with your existing systems.