Asset Tracking and Management to Support COVID-19 Treatment
The article discusses how IoT technology and clinical-grade infrastructure are being employed to provide real-time, room-level accurate tracking and management of critical medical devices and PPE—such as ventilators, infusion pumps, and specialty beds—to support efficient workflows, equipment availability, contact tracing, and safety during the COVID-19 patient surge.
With the rapid surge in COVID-19 positive cases, the importance of real-time availability and safety of life-saving medical devices, such as ventilators, has become paramount. Efficient workflows are needed to quickly locate and identify the status of critical medical equipment. Below is a summary of how IoT technology is being utilized to support current asset tracking and management challenges related to COVID-19 and subsequent patient surges.
Key Advantages
- Quick search of clean, ready-to-use equipment
- Contact tracing of equipment via location history reports and DVR functionality
- Monitoring equipment in quarantine rooms
- Efficient soiled equipment management
- Minimizing perceived shortages due to lack of location visibility
- Locating rented and loaned equipment in a timely manner to facilitate transfers to other hospitals and eventual returns
List of Critical Medical Devices
While not all devices required can be ascertained, the following categories are commonly utilized for the treatment of COVID-19:
- Infusion Pumps
- Isolation Carts
- BiPAP/CPAP machines
- CVVH/CRRT Dialysis Machines
- Ventilators
- Feeding Pumps
- Specialty Beds (RotoProne)
- Heart Monitors
Additionally, the quick availability of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as PAPR and portable HEPA filters, is critical in keeping healthcare workers safe and able to perform patient care, while minimizing the risk of further infection spread.
How it Works
Clinical-grade infrastructure can be used for multiple use cases, including asset tracking and management. This network provides 100% room-level accuracy for true workflow automation. A multi-mode option leverages the hospital's existing Wi-Fi network to provide the approximate location of a device within a zone (building, floor, department). Location accuracy can be enhanced to clinical-grade in strategic areas, such as Equipment Storage, with the use of Gen2IR-enabled monitors. The system enables users to quickly search for devices using attributes such as device category, make/manufacturer, serial numbers, usage status, and more.
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