What are the barriers preventing widespread real-time location system (RTLS) implementation in health care facilities? We have compiled case studies of RTLS implementations in medical facilities. By examining the documented successes and failures of existing applications we have isolated three main obstacles that seem to deter industry change.

1. BARRIERS TO REAL-TIME LOCATION SYSTEMS ADOPTION IN THE MEDICAL FIELD
What are the barriers preventing widespread real-time location system (RTLS) implementation in health care
facilities? We have compiled case studies of RTLS implementations in medical facilities. By examining the
documented successes and failures of existing applications we have isolated three main obstacles that seem to deter
industry change.
Andrew Adams | Terrill Chalmers | Matthew Schiller | Kevin O’Connor | Stephen Elliott
Overview
Background
Cost PrivacyEfficiency
Benefits
• Real-time location system (RTLS) is an automatic
identification and tracking system used in many
industries to manage objects and people.
• Traditionally used in supply chain management and
manufacturing, RTLS has become more prevalent in a
variety of fields including health care.
• Uses tags and wireless technologies including radio,
ultrasound, and infrared to map assets in a defined
area
• Hospital efficiency including increased patient
throughput rates and decreased equipment
searching time
• Better patient care including decreased wait
times and more accurate matching of patients to
medications
• Reduced healthcare costs including more
accurate workflow planning and reduced
redundancy of staff and supplies
• Acquisition of equipment,
upgrade to infrastructure,
including wiring, and
installation
• Maintenance including
constant tag replacement and
IT and database support
• Certain wireless signals unable to
provide room-specific location
accuracy
• Tag durability concerns such as
ability to survive sterilization
• Battery life inconsistency
• Sensitive medical data
transported wirelessly
• Legal liability with HIPPA and
ISO standards
• Third party solutions may be
more vulnerable to data loss
Conclusion
The main barriers to implementation of RTLS in health care facilities seem to fit into our categories of cost, efficiency, and
privacy. Despite the concerns, health care facility administrators should find ways to mitigate these barriers and move
towards universal adoption. With advancements in technology, lower costs and better accuracy may soon render many of
these concerns moot.
Literature Matrix