Asset Tracking Utilizes Ultrasound Transmission
Seton Medical Center implemented a unique approach for its asset tracking system, which was described in Health Data Management. The hospital adopted a tracking system that uses ultrasound waves to transmit information about location of assets.
The facility’s staff opted to purchase an ultrasound system because of the precision noted with transmission of ultrasound. Radio frequency based systems could not support the institution’s goal of achieving one hundred percent accuracy at the room-level.
Tags are attached to hospital assets, those that emit ultrasound waves containing the serial number of the asset. The waves, which are outside the range of human hearing, do not interfere with medical applications of ultrasound technology. The waves are captured by microphones installed throughout the hospital.
Microphones transmit information to a server. An application dedicated to asset tracking links the serial number that was transmitted to the equipment.
The Texas based facility implemented the program in April. Since then, the organization has continued to modify and expand the system for further refinement. The hospital is currently developing ultrasound tags that will be attached to patient identification wristbands.
A number of studies published on Hospital Buyer describe the use of RFID for asset tracking, such as an iteration of the system from Xmark. One recent story describes use of RFID in combination with infrared.
August 2, 2007 Related topics: Wireless, Supply chain/SCM