Improving quality of Veteran care and operational efficiency with RTLS Michael McDonald, MS, CCE VISN 11 Biomedical Engineer POC Veterans in Partnership (VISN11) Healthcare Network, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs 2
VA Veterans Health Administration VA operates the largest direct health care system in America 152 medical centers and 1400 community based outpatient clinics, community living centers, Vet Centers, and Domiciliaries Managing over $5.6 Billion Dollars of Medical Technology Providing comprehensive care to more than 8.3 million Veterans each year 3
VA Organization Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNS) 4
Veterans In Partnership (VIP) Healthcare Network (VISN 11) 1 of 21 Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs) Comprised of 7 VA Medical Centers and 29 operating Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) Health care for Veterans in central Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and northwest Ohio. The VIP network medical centers serve over 291,000 Veterans annually with $220 million of medical technology. 5
VA RTLS Primary Objectives Deploy the set of nationally standardized RTLS solutions to: VHA Medical Centers, Clinics, non-patient care locations That will Improve operational efficiency and the quality of Veteran care Decrease operational costs Maximize equipment utilization Increase efficiencies and staff productivity Minimize lost and misplaced items Improve customer and staff satisfaction Enhance the quality and safety of service from patient, physician, and institution perspectives A Veteran Care-centered Vision for RTLS Implementation 6
RTLS Solution Overview Technology Demonstration An aggressive deployment of industry-leading, proven technology at each of the seven Medical Centers
VA VISN 11 RTLS scope 25,000 active RTLS tags 94,000 passive (UHF) RFID tags 2,000 wireless temperature and humidity sensors 4.5 million square feet. Bar codes etched on 255,000 surgical instruments Passive (HF) RFID tags for the 63,000 cardiac catheterization lab supplies consumed annually by the seven hospitals 8
Phased Iterative Approach
VISN-wide, Phased, Iterative Implementation This approach enables progression based on lessons learned and allows flexibility to adapt to a facility s unique needs and processes 10
RTLS Initial Use Case Applications Asset Management Automated Temperature and Humidity Monitoring Consumables Tracking Cardiac Cath Lab (CCL) Sterile Processing Services (SPS) Workflow 11
RTLS Application: Asset Tracking
Asset Tracking Introduction: Examples with Active Tags
RTLS Application: Automated Temperature & Humidity Monitoring 14
RTLS Application: CCL Consumables Tracking Affix tag. Scan barcodes on box. Wave tag. Save. Cabinets do the counting. Wave the box at the point of care to capture usage.
RTLS Application: SPS Workflow How Instruments Are Tagged 2D Barcode Permanent, Chemically-Etched
RTLS Application: SPS Workflow
Lessons Learned
Lessons Learned: People Strong Steering Committees are Essential Executive Leadership Multidisciplinary Review and Input Standardized Approach Increased Communication
Lessons Learned: People Education of Key Stakeholders Clarify Objectives Demystify Technology Document Processes / Map Workflows Focus on Optimization and Removing Waste Never Add More Work Ask Partners for Demonstrations Encourage Communication from Existing Implementations
Lessons Learned: Technology For Wi-Fi sites, scale and accuracy of CADs defined Agreement on proper location and method for attaching tags Planning / funding for infrastructure enhancements Ensure use case critical areas are included in implementation (ex. Biomedical Engineering, Warehouse) 21
Lessons Learned: Data Facility Floor Plan Drawings (AutoCAD) Engineering Space File (AEMS/MERS) VA-UMDNS, IT Assets, CSNs
Lessons Learned: Process (SPS) Medical Center needs to provide expertise for properly identifying the Instruments Etching Locations Must Be Standardized Increased Assembly Errors due to Process Adoption
Lessons Learned: Process (CCL) Accurate Inventory Needed for Configuration Planning Construction May Be Needed Hanging Tag Design Improvements Optimized Supply Inventory Preparation Reduction in Required Inventory
Improving Patient Safety RTLS Already Benefitting Patient Care 25
RTLS Leveraging technology to improve patient safety and healthcare efficiency Are there any questions? michael.mcdonald@va.gov