Real-time locating system will enable healthcare facilities to enhance productivity
Under the agreement, GE Medical will employ WhereNet's patented Real-Time Locating System (RTLS) technology that utilizes low power, spread spectrum technology which provides high-resolution capability and virtually eliminates radio frequency interference with other medical devices and wireless network systems in the health care space. This marks WhereNet's first major agreement in the health care industry, following extremely successful initiatives in the automotive, consumer goods, and transportation markets.
"Trying to locate critical medical equipment in an emergency is a very real problem today," said Ken Denison, general manager for contract and support services for GE Medical Systems. "Furthermore, with increasing pressure on the health care industry to trim costs, over-provisioning of supplies and equipment is no longer a viable alternative to misplaced assets. By joining with WhereNet, GE Medical will be able to offer its customers a best-in-class visibility solution to revolutionize the way health care facilities utilize high-value medical equipment."
The IntelliMotion system uses WhereNet's radio frequency technology to provide location and status information of mobile medical equipment, such as infusion pumps, monitoring devices, gurneys and wheelchairs. This enables health care providers to quickly locate and redeploy assets in the right place at the right time. By simply viewing a monitor with a map display of the health care facility, GE Medical's customers will know the location of any tagged medical asset within an accuracy of 10 feet. The WhereNet solution has already been proven by Fortune 50 customers to dramatically optimize assets resulting in millions of dollars in cost savings.
"We are pleased to be able to help GE Medical Systems maintain its status as the most technologically advanced provider of medical systems and equipment worldwide," said Dan Doles, president and CEO for WhereNet. "Total resource utilization is now possible for health care facilities that leverage our collaborative breakthrough technology. We expect GE Medical's customers to enjoy significant savings and a strong return on investment through the benefits associated with the real-time location of all of their valuable medical equipment. We also take great satisfaction in being able to improve the health care services delivery for GEMS customers."
About IntelliMotion powered by WhereNet
The IntelliMotion powered by WhereNet application utilizes patented advances in spread-spectrum wireless technology to provide the ability to locate any tagged object with accuracy within as little as 10 feet. An array of antennas at the health care facility receives transmissions at regular intervals from the wireless WhereTags. A WhereNet location processor then calculates the precise location of every piece of tagged mobile medical equipment. This location information is then available through search queries or can be displayed in a map view on a PC or a Web browser for health care personnel to see the exact location of the assets in real time.
- Improved Patient Care and Higher Census
With a better utilization of assets and more streamlined operations, health care facilities will be able to see more patients than ever before. Patients will also benefit from reduced wait times and improved quality of services as health care personnel will have more reliable access to those pieces of medical equipment best suited for a particular patient's condition. Health care schedulers will be able to more effectively plan surgeries and better react to emergency situations. Furthermore, historical data of equipment utilization can be automatically fed into scheduling software programs. - Efficient and Cost Effective
The IntelliMotion powered by WhereNet solution significantly reduces the amount of time spent trying to locate mobile medical assets as personnel have immediate, real-time visibility, status, and access to any of the hundreds of pieces of tagged clinical equipment. The elimination of manual searches results in reduced labor cost and higher utilization of the medical devices. In addition, capital expenditures decrease as a result of fewer equipment purchases and rentals. - Enhanced Quality Control & Security
With continuous asset monitoring and reporting, health care personnel will have better control over the maintenance schedules and requirements, such as calibration and sterilization, of every piece of tagged medical equipment. Alerts can be programmed when an asset is due for maintenance. The alert feature offers security functionality as well. Health care facilities may be sectioned off into zones. If a designated medical device leaves a certain zone or moves when it shouldn't be moving, personnel are immediately notified via an alert in the form of a page or e-mail.
GE Medical Systems is an $8 billion global leader in medical information and technology. Its offerings include networking and productivity tools, healthcare information systems, patient monitoring systems, conventional and digital X-ray, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance (MR), ultrasound and bone mineral densitometry, positron emission tomography (PET), and nuclear medicine. For more than 100 years, health care providers worldwide have relied on GE Medical Systems for high quality medical technology, services and productivity solutions. For more information, visit the GE Medical Systems Web site at gemedicalsystems.com.
About WhereNet Corp.
WhereNet Corp., winner of last year's Henry Ford Technology Award, is the first company to design, build, and market wireless supply chain visibility solutions for locating, tracking, and managing supply chain resources, critical to success in today's competitive global business environment. WhereNet systems seamlessly connect a company's resources to its information systems, in real time. WhereNet's real-time locating and tracking technology utilize patented advances in spread-spectrum wireless technology to provide the ability to locate any tagged object with accuracy within 10 feet (3 meters). The result is constant, on-demand information about valuable assets in the supply chain, their physical location, and status. Driven by wireless tags, fixed position antennas and Web-enabled software, WhereNet's real-time solutions offer lower operating costs, improved return-on-assets, and higher levels of customer service for some of the World's leading companies such as Ford Motor Company, Coca-Cola and FMC. Founded in 1997, WhereNet is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, with sales offices throughout the United States and Europe. Information is available on the WhereNet Web site at www.wherenet.com or by calling 408-845-8500.
Source: WhereNet Corp.
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