Spectrum Health System Deploys Real Time Location System (RTLS)

Spectrum Health System has completed deployment of its Real Time Location System (RTLS) covering over 1.8 million square feet and 5,300 assets under management!

Here we grow again!

Spectrum Health is one of the nation's top integrated delivery systems. When hospital leaders sought a solution to manage over 5,300 hospital assets throughout its Grand Rapids, MI, downtown and cross town campuses, they turned to RTLS. 

The deployment was announced on Monday, August 9th, 2010 via press release.  The selected solution is a collaboration between between Skytron, Awarepoint, and Intelligent InSites and is deployed enterprise-wide, inclusive of Butterworth Hospital, Fred and Lena Meijer Heart Center, Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital and Blodgett Hospital. You can read the full release here on the News & Events page of the Awarepoint website.

The first challenge addressed by Spectrum Health's RTLS deployment was tracking equipment that requires preventive maintenance.  According to Robert Rinck, Director of Clinical Engineering for Spectrum Health System, “patient safety is priority #1”.

In addition to supporting preventive maintenance responsibilities, optimization of the use of mobile assets -- including infusion pumps, wheelchairs, computers on wheels and other high use assets -- has shown immediate benefits. The goal: use assets more efficiently, reduce rentals, optimize capital purchases, and improve workflows.

Going forward, Spectrum Health is looking to expand their use of RTLS to further enhance current systems and processes. Leaders at Spectrum Health are truly forward-thinking and appear be embracing the concept of “the Real-time Enterprise”, as described by Gartner Research and reported in this blog recently:

To remain competitive, Gartner believes health systems must evolve to “Real-time Enterprises (RTEs)”. “To successfully operate as RTEs, health systems will expand their use of automation, instrumentation, location and condition-sensing technologies; event-driven and service-oriented approaches; messaging and interoperability; and wireless and mobility, and integrate a host of other technologies and process changes that enable the RTE.”

Looking forward, Spectrum health may consider such use cases as:

• ED – are lab results back?

• Hospitalists – how do I find the primary nurse for my patient?

• Patient movement throughout the hospital; bed placement from PACU.

• Revenue Cycle Management – “we do a lot of things we don’t get paid for”

Do you see any of these same challenges in your hospital? If so, we’d love to hear your stories.

So, welcome Spectrum Health to the growing family of Awarepoint customers and stay tuned... more client success stories are sure to follow!

~ Valerie Fritz