Healthcare IT News: Hospitals leaning to IT for Infection Control

Hospitals Leaning to IT for Infection Control Healthcare IT News

Health Care IT news recently published and article on the increasing use of IT to prevent infection in hospitals. The results came from the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) 2009 APIC Economic Survey.

The study reports that budgets are being slashed for infection prevention due to the economic downturn, despite the increase in healthcare acquired infections (HAIs) in recent years. This also comes at a time when federal guidelines and reduction targets are growing and payer guidelines for reimbursement are refusing payment for many preventable conditions.

There is hope on the horizon though, as the article states that hospitals who have adopted automated systems to enhance infection control are reporting "significantly increased staff efficiency, better patient outcomes and improved financial reimburesement -- and that they would never return to previous manual workflows."

APIC CEO Kathy L. Warye is quoted in the Healthcare IT News article, saying:

"Without enought trained professionals, funding and high-tech solutions that speed access to infection-related data, we are not going to continue to make progress in eliminating preventable infections."

Contact Dynamic for more information on the use of proven technology solutions to prevent HAIs, or visit our Health Care RFID site to view a brief Flash demo (less than 30 sec.) on preventing HAIs with RFID, at http://www.dynamicrfidsolutions.com/solutions/preventing_HAIs.php.

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)

Preventing HAIs with RFID

In response to H&HN’s online article Preventing Infections at the Hospital, in the October issue, I would like to discuss the critical role that health care IT, and Radio Frequency Identification in particular, can play in creating and maintaining a culture of safety.

Hand-washing campaigns in and of themselves have not been incredibly successful, as evidenced by the 50 percent compliance rate reported in Lee Ann Runy’s piece. With the help of RFID technologies, clinicians and patients can be required to wash their hands prior to treating a patient in a way that, among other things, a) encourages a culture of safety by requiring routine actions to take place in a certain order; and, b) provides a mechanism for timely reporting and accountability.

RFID has been described as an “Internet of Things,” to convey the concept of how it works. It is able to automatically identify, locate and provide very specific information about objects and people with the use of radio broadcasting technologies. Tags, which are affixed to or embedded in objects, emit a radio frequency which is picked up by strategically placed antennae/readers that transmit the information on the identity and location of the object to a database. In health care settings, it is being used to track a variety of things including inventory, assets, staff & patients, pharmaceuticals and lab specimens.

In the case of hand hygiene, Ms Runy made some very good points that I will briefly address:

1. The cost of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) soars into the BILLIONS of dollars annually.

2. Cultural barriers inhibit infection control, and lack of shared accountability impedes the adoption of a culture of safety.

3. Lack of credible and timely information continues to be a problem in addressing the issue.

4. Health care information technology has largely neglected the infection control arena.

5. Practitioners spend a great deal of time tracking and reporting metrics, rather than undertaking prevention measures.

RFID technologies can simultaneously address each of these points in a cost-effective, timely and accurate manner.

Imagine for a moment that clinicians were required wash their hands and apply hand sanitizer prior to coming into direct contact with patients to complete their purpose, whether it is medication dispensing or surgical procedures. If they did not wash their hands prior to approaching the patient’s bedside they would be warned. If they did not heed the warning their supervisor and/or quality control officer would immediately and automatically receive an email reporting the incident. This is possible now, and is just one simple example of an inexpensive application of RFID technology that could potentially save the industry billions of dollars. Let me explain how this would work.

Doctors’ badges would have an embedded tag or label affixed to them. Strategically located readers in bathrooms, at sinks, doorways and patient beds or patient wristbands would pick up the signal from the badge when within range. The range could be very close for the sinks, such that the clinician would have to actually touch the faucet in order for it to pick up the signal, while for the beds (or patient wristbands) a wider range could be set up, perhaps a 5 foot radius. A rule would be set in the system that would signal a notification of some type to be prompted if the reader near the bed/wristband picks up the signal without the ID badge first being sensed by the reader at the sink (or in the bathroom). The warning could be a flashing light, a message appearing on a monitor, or another action that is set by the system rules. A time rule could be set up to require that within one minute of the warning, the ID badge must be read by the sink reader, or an immediate report of the lapse in procedure would be sent to whomever, and would be entered into the incident reporting database, the patient’s EHR and/or any other health information system.

This is a simple example of how evidence-based, health care IT can be applied to:

1. Prevent many HAIs and the cost associated with them.

2. Foster and maintain a culture of safety with shared accountability.

3. Provide real-time, accurate information on compliance and violations.

4. Manage infection control through evidence-based practices supported by information technology.

5. Free infection control practitioners from manually tracking and reporting metrics, allowing them instead to focus on more ways to enhance safety measures.

This, again, is just one small application of RFID in health care that would yield vast results immediately upon installation. The ROI is rapidly realized through cost savings, risk reduction and improved patient care. And, once an RFID infrastructure is in place, it can be expanded to include various other areas where health care providers commonly experience “pains” that can be costly and inefficient.

Some of these pains include, medication errors, procedure errors, inefficiency of facility and equipment use, overstocking of medication and supplies, lack of visibility into patient flow processes, asset utilization and location, loss due to shrinkage, and the list goes on.

Perhaps those who make decisions about applications of IT in health care settings should reconsider the role IT can play in facilitating safe practices that result in improved patient care, reduced costs and minimized risks. All stakeholders benefit from a safer, more efficient and more economical health care system. Download PDF

For more information on Health Care RFID, contact Dynamic at www.dcc-online.com/rfid, or call toll free: 866-257-2111.


DCC provides scalable RFID solutions that meet three key health care objectives: improving patient care, reducing costs and minimizing risks. Our solutions deliver rapid ROI on your nominal investment by integrating RFID technologies with your existing systems to automate operations and eliminate error.

DCC selects the best RFID hardware, software and tags in functionality and value, for the health care environment. With no vested interest in any particular technology or brand, you can rest assured that we have the right prescription to eliminate the "pains" in health care.

Addressing Patient Flow Woes: Patient & Staff Tracking with RFID

Poor patient flow is a problem for hospitals, negatively affecting productivity to meet patient demand. Eighty-nine percent of hospital executives expressed this sentiment in a new survey. Healthcare IT is the solution according to most of the 200 health care executives surveyed. Here are a few more interesting facts from the study that were highlighted in a recent article from Healthcare IT News:

88% said IMPROVED PRODUCTIVITY and EFFICIENCY are key to meeting patient demand
56% do not have a patient flow system
94% are implementing manual process to improve the problem
67% are planning to invest in health care IT for patient tracking
62% are considering bar coding solutions
29% are considering RFID, while 73% are considering various technologies including (non-specific) patient tracking software, 38%, inpatient scheduling modules, 34% and other technologies, 12%

The reasons they cite for poor patient flow include (67%) poor communication, (37%) ineffective scheduling of activities and resources, (36%) lack of beds, (34%) lack of staff to facilitate patient flow, and (32%) poor centralized knowledge about the location and status of patients.

This study confirms what most in the industry already knew from qualitative analysis and anecdotal observation.

It’s surprising that of the technologies being considered by these executives, only 29% are considering RFID technology specifically. RFID would seem to be a more popular preference given a number of factors, including:

It can incorporate and capitalize on the systems and infrastructure already in place
It’s scalable and flexible once the foundation is built
It can encompass barcoding processes and enhance barcoding where it is already in place
Offers automaticity and synchronicity unparalleled by other technologies
Increases staff productivity and efficiency by freeing them from many manual processes
ROI is compounded in a way that is not possible with the more narrowly focused technologies

With the issue of staff productivity and efficiency, it would seem counterproductive to implement manual processes to address the problem. Through RFID hospitals are able to better track patients and staff, and provide the transparent visibility throughout the patient flow process that is so desperately needed.

RFID effectively addresses ALL of the reasons listed above in reference to what causes poor patient flow.

POOR COMMUNICATION:
RFID enhances and automates communication throughout not only the hospital, but across the entire continuum of care.

INEFFECTIVE SCHEDULING OF ACTIVITIES AND RESOURCES
RFID provides real-time location information (RTL) of staff, patients, assets and inventory, and can be integrated with the scheduling software, email/paging system or other systems already in place.

LACK OF STAFF TO FACILITATE PATIENT FLOW
RFID frees up staff from the manual processes and allows them to be more productive and efficient in their primary roles.

POOR CENTRALIZED KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE LOCATION AND STATUS OF PATIENTS
RFID provides RTL(S) of the location and status of patients, making the patients’ status continuously available to health care providers and family members.

Health care executives should more carefully examine the options on the table for patient tracking, and reconsider RFID for this and other health care tracking purposes, like asset tracking and maintenance, inventory management, medication tracking and lab and sample tracking. RFID is a solution that can simultaneously address all of these areas in a cost-effective and efficient way.

For more information on Health Care RFID, contact Dynamic at www.dcc-online.com/rfid, or call toll free: 866-257-2111. You can also download information in a one-page PDF.

DCC provides scalable RFID solutions that meet three key health care objectives: improving patient care, reducing costs and minimizing risks. Our solutions deliver rapid ROI on your nominal investment by integrating RFID technologies with your existing systems to automate operations and eliminate error.

DCC selects the best RFID hardware, software and tags in functionality and value, for the health care environment. With no vested interest in any particular technology or brand, you can rest assured that we have the right prescription to eliminate the "pains" in health care.

Dynamic Builds Scalable RFID Solutions

Dynamic Computer Corporation provides foundational RFID solutions. Our RFID experts can make your concept a reality, or work with you to design the most practical solution for your company’s unique needs.

Once the initial building blocks are in place in the form of a tested, scalable RFID solution, we can help you integrate a more expansive solution across your processes, departments and even throughout your enterprise.

Dynamic’s team is knowledgeable and practical, and our process-oriented system allows complete transparency to the client through each phase.

We pride ourselves on providing RFID education with no sales pressure or strings attached. You will find that we are efficient and reliable and understand your business problem from an RFID solutions standpoint. We respond to your needs quickly and thoroughly.

Some advantages of utilizing RFID technology:

• cuts costs
• increases productivity
• eliminates errors
• reduces human involvement
• automates processes
• provides visibility
• improves customer service
• shortens sales cycle
• reduces shrinkage

Allow us the opportunity to discuss a practical RFID solution that would offer these advantages to your organization.

Call 248-473-2200 for a free, no-hassle consultation, or to set up a tour of our RFID Demo Room.

Unparalleled RFID Logistics Trial a Success

Twenty-eight companies collaborated in an RFID logistics pilot, successfully tracking shipments of goods on their journey across the sea from China to the United States, according to a recent article on RFID Update.

The trial, sponsored by EPC Global, established that that the EPC Information Services (EPCIS) standard can successfully supply real-time global visibility for multiple companies in a supply chain. (Learn more about EPCIS from the original article.)

Several technologies interfaced to an EPCIS system, exchanging data among the manufacturers, logistics suppliers, associations, government organizations, and technology providers that participated in the pilot testing. Through EPCIS, the various organizations were able to combine and share data via passive and active RFID and EPCIS technologies that are usually implemented separately.

Gen2 passive UHF RFID tags were used to identify 120 pallets of goods split among three cargo containers. An active RFID tag identified each of the three containers.

The RFID tracking took place at the origination and destination ports, by trucking firms, cargo ship operators and multiple distribution centers.
EPCglobal is considering another pilot to expand on what was learned in this trial.


Could an RFID pilot help your company test a potential solution?

Dynamic Computer is a great source for RFID information and can help you evaluate how RFID could enhance your operation. We provide comprehensive and customized RFID solutions from concept, through testing, to implementation!

Visit the Dynamic Computer Corporation Web site or call 248-473-2200. We offer an RFID Demo tour where you can experience the technology in action! You can visit us and request a tour of our facility at 23400 Industrial Park Court, Farmington Hills, MI 48335.

RFID Revolutionizes Industrial Battery Recycling Program

Montreal, Canada-based logistics and engineering firm Can/U.S. Enviro-Energy, recently teamed up with Academia RFID to plan and implement an RFID solution that enables them to automate the battery tracking process in their industrial lithium battery replacement and recycling processes.

Early this year, after three months of testing, the RFID system was put into place. The system alerts customers in real time when their batteries have been accepted, then sends the customer an e-document verifying its receipt. This immediately qualifies them to apply for return credits.

Can/U.S. Enviro-Energy views environmentally safe battery disposal as an industry obligation. The RFID solution provides the company not only with the means to track the hazardous batteries throughout the recycling process, but also with the assurance that this industrial waste does not end up in landfills, damaging the environment.

This technology has revolutionized the service the firm has been offering for more than 15 years, serving large telecom and hydro-electric utilities companies in the transport, storage, handling and disposal/recycling of industrial batteries and power supply equipment.

Could RFID help automate tracking processes in your company?

Dynamic Computer is a great source for RFID information and can help you evaluate how RFID could enhance your operation. We provide comprehensive and customized RFID solutions from concept, through testing, to implementation!

Visit the Dynamic Computer Corporation Web site or call 248-473-2200. We offer an RFID Demo tour where you can experience the technology in action! You can visit us and request a tour of our facility at 23400 Industrial Park Court, Farmington Hills, MI 48335.

What does RFID have to do with the price of gas?

While they might seem completely unrelated, Mark Roberti, founder and editor of RFID Journal, points out that RFID implementation can help offset or reduce the amount of gasoline that companies and consumers require – cutting costs at a time when gas is predicted to reach $200 per barrel.

Companies must be efficient to remain competitive, given the rise in costs for producing and shipping goods. Costs need to be cut across their operations, including manufacturing and distribution processes. While producing more energy efficient products is good for business, it is not enough in itself to create sustainability in this market, he explains.

The following examples were used to demonstrate a few ways RFID can save fuel:

• Ensuring correct goods reach the correct store, thereby reducing truck trips
• Ensuring proper raw materials are sent to the correct factory
• Ensuring perishables are used on a first-in, first-out basis, reducing waste
• Reducing manufacturer errors by tracking work-in-progress better
• RFID data from stores could facilitate more efficient production, storage and shipping of products, reducing waste in the process
• RFID together with GPS technology could determine the most efficient truck routes, saving fuel
• Enhanced tracking of inventory in stores, ensuring customers can find everything they want in fewer trips
  

To read Roberti’s article in its entirety, visit RFID Journal.

Could RFID help cut costs across your organization?

Dynamic Computer is a great source for RFID information and can help you evaluate how RFID could enhance your operation. We provide comprehensive and customized RFID solutions from concept, through testing, to implementation!

Visit the Dynamic Computer Corporation Web site or call 248-473-2200. We offer an RFID Demo tour where you can experience the technology in action! You can visit us and request a tour of our facility at 23400 Industrial Park Court, Farmington Hills, MI 48335.

RFID poised to become a $9.7 billion industry by 2013

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) will grow to a $9.7 billion market by 2013, according to a new report by ABI Research.

Research Director Michael Liard explains that the RFID industry is growing strongly across a number of industries, in various forms, “including those applications that are unique to particular verticals, as well as those – such as asset tracking, security/access control, and supply chain management – that are common to a range of verticals.”

Many long-term RFID investments by large end-users account for the positive RFID market trends. For example, Sam’s Club / Wal-Mart and the Department of Defense have announced RFID compliance programs. The health care, energy and transportation industries are integrating RFID solutions for asset management, while many retailers are implementing item-level tagging applications.

Gelal, the largest sock manufacturer in Europe, is a recent example of the difference RFID solutions can make to the bottom line. The company has seen a 40 percent improvement in productivity after introducing an RFID-based tracking system in its Istanbul factory.

The 200,000 pairs of socks it produces per day for companies including Nike, Adidas and Reebok, used to require manual bar-code scanning in large cloth sacks between each of its 20 production stations, which was time consuming and sometimes delayed production due to bent or smudged bar-code labels. With the induction of Alien Technology’s EPC Gen 2 UHF tags attached to plastic totes, the company has reduced the personnel required for each shift from 20 down to 12 workers.

Examples like this demonstrate why rapid growth in the RFID industry is expected to continue at roughly at 15 percent annual rate for the period from 2008 to 2013.

ABI Research’s RFID Forecasts report offers “extensive data on RFID revenues and unit shipments, segmented by technology, application, and vertical market (aerospace & defense, automotive, commercial services, diverse manufacturing, government [non-military], health care/life sciences, retail consumer packaged goods [CPG], retail in store, transportation & logistics, and other),” as described on their Web site.

Could RFID help increase your company’s productivity?

Dynamic Computer is a great source for RFID information and can help you evaluate how RFID could enhance your operation. We provide comprehensive and customized RFID solutions from concept, through testing, to implementation!

Visit the Dynamic Computer Corporation Web site or call 248-473-2200. We offer an RFID Demo tour where you can experience the technology in action! You can visit us and request a tour of our facility at 23400 Industrial Park Court, Farmington Hills, MI 48335.