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Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, which allow objects to be connected to web-based communication networks to exchange and collect information, have had positive impacts on patient care and hospital management.
In tune with this evolution, Santa Casa de Valinhos, located in the interior of the state of São Paulo, implemented a project to identify and locate ICU equipment, using beacons, devices that emit signals that are captured by antennas connected to a control center, responsible for checking and storing data on a server. The initiative was carried out in partnership with the companies Taggen Soluções IoT and Biocam Equipamento Médico-hospitalares, where all data are integrated into the Genesis Clinical Engineering system, so that they can be analyzed by IBM's Watson, thus optimizing the hospital's resources.
The superintendent of Santa Casa, Edson Manzano, explains that the project arose from the need to update the inventory, monitor movements and locate the devices. "The real-time tracking system makes deviations and thefts difficult, facilitates the location of equipment for patient care, reduces some maintenance costs and speeds up asset audits. It replaces controls that, until then, were done manually. our resources", highlights Manzano. Among the equipment tracked are heart monitors, infusion pumps and the electrocardiogram. The implementation of this IoT project makes it possible to meet the current regulations for annual inventories and also to maintain the ONA (National Accreditation Organization) certificate, which assesses the quality of health services.
According to the superintendent, this new resource meets the goal of establishing transparent management and continuous improvements, fundamental aspects for the improvement of the administration of a Santa Casa - a philanthropic and non-profit hospital, which needs to maximize the direction of transfers. received from public bodies and donations.
How beacons work
"Beacons are small IoT devices with BLE (bluetooth low energy) technology that, among other features, allow you to compose object detection solutions in indoor environments at an affordable cost", highlights Werter Padilha, CEO of Taggen. These small active tags – which in the battery-operated model can last for several years – are placed on medical equipment and send the signals to readers (IoT gateways) installed on the premises of the establishment. "Readers will detect the beacons attached to the assets and send this information over a wi-fi network to our cloud service responsible for mapping the real-time location of each object in the hospital and making the information available to the administration or medical staff. with the criticality and agility required. After all, we are talking about control, optimization and waste reduction in critical hospital environments, maintaining the safety of patients and teams", explains Rogério Ulbrich, CEO of Biocam.
Given the success of the IoT initiative, the hospital's goal now is to expand the monitoring and location project, with the installation of beacons in the Emergency Room and Surgical Center equipment, along with other technical resources, at the beginning of 2018 and, thus, monitor approximately 100 pieces of equipment, with positive results in serving the population.
"We evaluate this project in a positive and inevitable way. IoT technologies, when properly applied, are a great support in helping diagnoses, faster and safer patient care and management. Here at Santa Casa we also have a timely application that allows you to view the waiting period in the emergency room and receive safe donations, among other facilities", concludes Manzano.
Santa Casa de Valinhos has 102 active beds and performs, on average, 450 surgeries per month, 800 hospitalizations and 10,000 emergency room visits.
In tune with this evolution, Santa Casa de Valinhos, located in the interior of the state of São Paulo, implemented a project to identify and locate ICU equipment, using beacons, devices that emit signals that are captured by antennas connected to a control center, responsible for checking and storing data on a server. The initiative was carried out in partnership with the companies Taggen Soluções IoT and Biocam Equipamento Médico-hospitalares, where all data are integrated into the Genesis Clinical Engineering system, so that they can be analyzed by IBM's Watson, thus optimizing the hospital's resources.
The superintendent of Santa Casa, Edson Manzano, explains that the project arose from the need to update the inventory, monitor movements and locate the devices. "The real-time tracking system makes deviations and thefts difficult, facilitates the location of equipment for patient care, reduces some maintenance costs and speeds up asset audits. It replaces controls that, until then, were done manually. our resources", highlights Manzano. Among the equipment tracked are heart monitors, infusion pumps and the electrocardiogram. The implementation of this IoT project makes it possible to meet the current regulations for annual inventories and also to maintain the ONA (National Accreditation Organization) certificate, which assesses the quality of health services.
According to the superintendent, this new resource meets the goal of establishing transparent management and continuous improvements, fundamental aspects for the improvement of the administration of a Santa Casa - a philanthropic and non-profit hospital, which needs to maximize the direction of transfers. received from public bodies and donations.
How beacons work
"Beacons are small IoT devices with BLE (bluetooth low energy) technology that, among other features, allow you to compose object detection solutions in indoor environments at an affordable cost", highlights Werter Padilha, CEO of Taggen. These small active tags – which in the battery-operated model can last for several years – are placed on medical equipment and send the signals to readers (IoT gateways) installed on the premises of the establishment. "Readers will detect the beacons attached to the assets and send this information over a wi-fi network to our cloud service responsible for mapping the real-time location of each object in the hospital and making the information available to the administration or medical staff. with the criticality and agility required. After all, we are talking about control, optimization and waste reduction in critical hospital environments, maintaining the safety of patients and teams", explains Rogério Ulbrich, CEO of Biocam.
Given the success of the IoT initiative, the hospital's goal now is to expand the monitoring and location project, with the installation of beacons in the Emergency Room and Surgical Center equipment, along with other technical resources, at the beginning of 2018 and, thus, monitor approximately 100 pieces of equipment, with positive results in serving the population.
"We evaluate this project in a positive and inevitable way. IoT technologies, when properly applied, are a great support in helping diagnoses, faster and safer patient care and management. Here at Santa Casa we also have a timely application that allows you to view the waiting period in the emergency room and receive safe donations, among other facilities", concludes Manzano.
Santa Casa de Valinhos has 102 active beds and performs, on average, 450 surgeries per month, 800 hospitalizations and 10,000 emergency room visits.
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