Streamlining the workflow and improving the availability of intravenous (IV) pumps within the hospital environment is the key goal of a radio frequency identification (RFID) pilot project being rolled out by Siemens and Airedale NHS Trust in West Yorkshire at Airedale General Hospital.
Trust’s track attack
The 30-day study will track some 100 IV pumps across the hospital site via its wireless network and the ID tag attached to each. The process for stock control, cleansing of pumps after use, and distribution to departments, is currently handled manually by the hospital’s Medical Engineering Department. A key pilot aim is to encourage optimised use of medical devices within the hospital.