The Healthcare domain is constantly evolving according to the needs of society, changes in technology, and the forces of bacteria. Within this constantly changing environment, healthcare systems must find ways to quickly and seamlessly adapt to these new changes without faltering. Health systems can shift some of this burden by using the latest healthcare technologies such as RTLS to optimize their daily operations to be more efficient and cost-saving. RTLS can eliminate hours of manual work by giving back time to staff and leaders, empowering them to make decisions on how to improve patient care. Given this, here are 10 steps for health systems to ensure a smooth transition when using RTLS systems.
Step 1: Outline your RTLS goals
Define your goals for implementing RTLS in your health system. What are some operations you want to make more efficient? Whether it’s reducing asset search time, minimizing equipment loss, or improving emergency response times, having a clear idea of what you are looking for can help you optimize systems around RTLS.
Step 2: List out existing integration software systems
Take stock of your current software systems and what systems you would like to integrate RTLS with. Look at the data you are trying to ascertain and see what software systems would best suit that.
Step 3: Establish a baseline
Before Implementing an RTLS system first, make sure you have a baseline KPI of your different systems and operations so that you can cross-check your growth after implementing the new RTLS system. This can help you ascertain what has changed and how things have improved.
Step 4: Determine location accuracy
RTLS systems take advantage of location to provide a myriad of data and analytics. Consider the level of location accuracy required for your facility. Determine if you need precise room-level accuracy or a broader location information
Step 5: Prioritize Speed and Responsiveness
Choose an RTLS system that provides Real-time tracking data, this will allow your health system to optimize its efficiency in real-time. Furthermore, real-time enabled systems can detect issues almost immediately, giving you the speed to come up with decisions that can impact patient care. Moreover, some RTLS implementations can take quite some time to install, but AI-RTLS systems like Intelligent Location’s INTRAX™ can be set up at a moment’s notice, giving you all the data, you need at a moment’s notice.
Step 6: Plan for scalability
Think about your facilities’ growth potential and plan for future expansion. Choose an RTLS system that can adapt to your needs as you grow without hindering your progress. A good RTLS system like Intelligent Location’s INTRAX™ should be able to adapt to the various scenarios you give it.
Step 7: Conduct Comprehensive Staff support and training
Learning a new system can be difficult, which is why transparent communication with frontline and ground staff is paramount. It is important to have training sessions to keep your staff informed and, in the loop, when their attention is required.
Step 8: Foster ongoing staff engagement
Maintaining staff engagement is crucial. Using RTLS implementations you can encourage your staff to have open communication channels where feedback and concerns can be heard and promptly addressed. Staff members who feel heard and valued are more likely to embrace technology and make the most of its benefits.
Steps 9 & 10: Measure success & periodically review progress
Regularly review the performance of your RTLS system and make necessary changes, quantify financial outcomes, and track progress to ensure continuous efficiency gains are being made. In doing so revisit your KPIs and look at the improvements you have made and need to make to improve your patient care.
While these 10 steps outline how you can successfully implement an RTLS system in your healthcare organization, the single most important action you can take is to select the right RTLS provider with a strong and trustable track record. Look no further than Intelligent Locations. Intelligent Locations takes the RTLS game a step forward by powering their RTLS system with AI allowing for predictive and proactive data that can change the way your healthcare facility functions. From easy installation to different use case solutions, Intelligent locations has you covered. Embrace the transformative power of RTLS and lead your organization into a future of unparalleled efficiency and precision!