RTLS & RFID: Healthcare's Silver Bullet!

The technology wars are over in the sensors, wireless, RF world where for years emphasis was placed on proving whether they actually worked rather than deploying real solutions. That was the proclamation by a group of Healthcare CIO's and IT executives at one recent RFID/Wireless industry conference.

Finally, the wars are over and we can concentrate on deploying the most effective systems that deliver a host of benefits that can be obtained in ways unreachable before now.

An outcome of all this is the little known and understood world of "Wi-Fi RTLS", otherwise known as "real time location systems". If you are not aware of this technology as much as you should be, then this article should provide a new perspective with a potential "silver bullet" for your healthcare operations.

RFID (radio frequency identification) and RTLS seemed to be esoteric and confusing. But as the utilization of both RFID and RTLS has exploded in numerous applications, the concept has finally been grasped as straight forward technology and a new source for cost reductions or operational efficiencies. The only real issue that remains is who can implement it properly and with what type of RF.

Many people don't realize that simple toll tags used on the highway are just one type of RFID. Other uses range from wireless auto key locks, to passive tagging of store items, to access control ID cards or even "contactless" smart cards and now with Wi-Fi to all types of mobile devices. We can now determine locations of people and items with active tags which can report on a continuous or programmed basis to provide a dashboard with up to the minute status displays.

Designed and implemented correctly, hospital administration can know exactly where its assets are, its patients and its caregivers at any moment in time.

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Article: RTLS & RFID: Healthcare's Silver Bullet! （http://www.healthcaretechnologyonline.com/article.mvc/RTLS-RFID-Healthcares-Silver-Bullet-0002?VNETCOOKIE=NO）

Source: Ekahau, Inc