Real-time patient health and patient location tracking system project was developed by Computer Engineering Students who are Büşra Aslan, Merve Nur Aktan and Tarık Ziya Bilgin as a BSc Thesis Project of Department of Computer Engineering at Dokuz Eylul University.

1. EPTS
EMERGENCY SERVICE PATIENT
TRACKING SYSTEM

2. OUTLINE
• ABSTRACT
• INTRODUCTION
• RELATED WORKS
• REQUIREMENT ANALYSIS
• DESIGN
• IMPLEMENTATION
• CONCLUSION AND FUTURE WORKS
• REFERENCES

3. ABSTRACT
Usage of NFC and beacon technologies is increasing day by day. We encounter NFC technologies in such
areas: credit cards, identification cards, driving licenses etc. In addition we encounter beacon technologies in
such areas: retailing, concert, etc.
Hospital emergency services are places that have a lot of patient density and a lot of patient examination
must be done in limited time. The most important thing is treating patient as soon as possible in the correct
way. During this process, treatment which is applied to patient and medicines which is given to patient must be
recorded. At present time, treatment which is applied to patient and medicines which is given to patient are
recorded by most of the Hospital Information Management Systems.

4. However, we know that due to patient density and importance of moving fast for patient treatment, recording
of used medical material such as medicine and other consumables can be ignored time to time. At the
beginning ,this wasting of medical materials look as if small amount but in due course, if this wasting
process resumes without preventing , it can be cause harmful effect on hospital's fiscal situation.
In this thesis, following things are provided: preventing fiscal harm which occur because of treatment and
medicine recording omission, detection of queue that process of conveying medicine from one health staff to
another until given to patient via using NFC technology, informing patient relatives who stay away from
hospital about patient's location via using beacon technology.

5. INTRODUCTION
Our work focuses on prevent wasting situation which is described above in abstract and recording treatment
which is applied to patient and medicines which is given to patient easily .Beacons are pretty useful for
detecting patient's location information and NFC technology (NFC reader and NFC tag) is pretty useful for
tracking medical materials. NFC tags are suitable for identifying patient and medicines. Each patient and
medicine must have NFC tag. Patients can use NFC wristband instead of NFC tag. Both of them have same
mission. Mobile devices which have NFC reader property can be used as NFC reader. Our actors of this
work are patient/patient's relatives, health staff and doctor. Actors can reach the system using our mobile
application. For instance patient's relative can track patient's examination information, location information
and medicine information.

6. Health staff can give medicine to patient, track location information, take medicine from store/staff, give
medicine to store/staff, display patient's prescription, and track given medicines of current examination and
enter patient's complaint of current examination. Doctor has health staff's all authorization, in addition doctor
can browse and choose patient and display chosen patient's situation.
Thus, our work will contribute to reduce wasting of medical materials and facilitate obtaining patient's
location information in hospital emergency services.

7. RELATED WORKS
There are lots of project that uses NFC and RFID for patient tracking and tracking system for hospital
equipment and materials.

8. Lahtela, Hassinen, & Jylhä (2008) develop a project that includes;
• Gathering of patient tracking,
• Tracking system for hospital equipment and materials,
• Tags that includes patient’s data.
• The main idea of the project is via using NFC and RFID, ease of patient’s life.
• On the other hand RFID can be used for monitoring temperatures in different situations. Transporting
blood is a one event, where RFID is a useful help for observation. A tag, responsive to temperature,
enables a real-time follow-up for assuring proper transport conditions.
• Another aim of the project is with the help of RFID, giving the right medication and the right dosage to the
right patient can be done safely.

9. D’Souza, Ma, Notobartolo, & Hopkins (2011) develop a project that;
• Is a real-time location systems can help hospitals execute a coordinated response during a disaster.
• Starting point of project is in mass casualty events, it is difficult to track the location of patients and critical
assets.
• An RFID tag will be attached to mass casualty patients and critical equipment to track their location in a
disaster.

10. Pennathura et al. (2011) develop a project that includes;
• Status boards that contain both demographic information such as name, age and gender; and clinical
information about the patient (symptoms/diagnosis, plans for care, test results).
• The electronic tracking systems being implemented are typically linked to other hospital information
systems and have the ability to log information inputs.

11. Bailey & Whyte (2006) develop a project that;
• Is the process by which a mobile robot can build a map of the environment and, at the same time, use
this map to compute its location.
• The great majority of work has focused on improving computational efficiency while ensuring consistent
and accurate estimates for the map and vehicle pose.

12. Iqbal, Ahmad, & Gillani (2014) develop a Project;
• For the inventory control system of an electronic store in which each product has a passive NFC tag
pasted to it.
• When a customer buys a product, the receipt of the product is generated using NFC between the NFC
passive tag on the product and NFC enabled device (e.g. smart phone or reader) at the cash counter.

13. Gao, Greenspan, Welsh, Juang, & Alm (2005) develop a project that;
• Was designed and developed a real-time patient monitoring system that integrates vital signs sensors,
location sensors, ad-hoc networking, electronic patient records, and web portal technology to allow
remote monitoring of patient status.
• The study (Gao et al., 2005) shall facilitate communication between providers at the disaster scene,
medical professionals at local hospitals, and specialists available for consultation from distant facilities.

14. BCDS Solutions have designed and developed an integrated RFID Inventory Tracking and
Warehouse Management Solution (WMS) (BCDS Solutions, 2016);
• Which implements a unique strategic approach to traditional warehousing functions, formulated
around the use of multiple nested locations.
• Australian businesses who have integrated RFID systems into their inventory management processes
have significantly saved in costs from labor, human error and time spent handling products.

15. Printz, Menschner, & Leimeister (2012) develop a project that;
• Allows patient monitoring and electronic data acquisition directly from the patient's home.
• It enables real time representation and analysis of patient data and thus allows direct medical
intervention by physicians.
• The results of a field test indicate that NFC is almost as simple as filling out a paper-based
questionnaire.
• Further, NFC technology was perceived as very intuitive and the information quality of each patient's
health status could be improved.

16. REQUIREMENT ANALYSIS
Our System Requirements;
• Define position
• Draw position map
• Track Inventory
• Warn for Insufficient Inventory
• Display Patient Status
• Enter Medical Appointment Information
• Track Patient Current Position
• Track Patient’s Medical Appointment Information

17. DESIGN
In design phase, use case diagram, use case tables, class diagram, state diagram, sequence diagram,
deployment diagram, activity diagram were drawn.
Packages are defined as;
• Patient Tracking Module
• Stock Control Module
• Doctor Information Module
• Patient’s Relative Information Module

18. IMPLEMENTATIONOUTLINE
• Database
• Ado.net
• Restful API
• N-tier Architecture
• Transaction Based Entity Design
• Linq
• Host
• Admin Panel
• SOA
• NFC
• TFS
• Android Bootstrap
• Android Asynchronous Http Client (LOOPJ Library)
• Android Beacon Library (Altbeacon)

19. DATABASE
• A database is an organized collection of data. It is the collection of schemas, tables, queries,
reports, views and other objects.
• A database management system (DBMS) is a computer software application that interacts with the
user, other applications, and the database itself to capture and analyze data. A general-purpose
DBMS is designed to allow the definition, creation, querying, update, and administration of
databases..

20. DATABASE(CONT.)
• Microsoft SQL Server was selected by usto use for these needs.
• Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio was used to develop
database on Microsoft SQL Server as DBMS.

21. DATABASE(CONT.)
• Database tables were planned and then were created to provide
dynamic and flexible data storage.
• Some Example
BeaconInformation Table
DrugTakenFromStore Table

22. ADO.NET
• ADO.NET provides a bridge between the front
end controls and the back end database. The
ADO.NET objects encapsulate all the data
access operations and the controls interact with
these objects to display data, thus hiding the
details of movement of data.

23. RESTFUL API
• Representational state transfer (REST) is an architectural style
consisting of a coordinated set of components, connectors, and
data elements within a distributed hypermedia system.
• RESTful systems typically, but not always, communicate over
Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) with the same HTTP verbs
(GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, etc.) that clients use to retrieve data
and to send data to remote servers.

24. RESTFUL API(CONT.)
• Asp.Net MVC Web Api is a framework that makes it easy to build
HTTP services that reach a broad range of clients, including
browsers and mobile devices. It were used to building RESTful
applications on the .NET Framework.
• A web API is an application programming interface (API) for
either a server or a client.

25. RESTFUL API(CONT.)
• Some Example

26. N-TIER ARCHITECTURE
• N-tier data applications are data applications that are separated into multiple tiers.

27. N-TIER ARCHITECTURE(CONT)
• Some Example

28. TRANSACTION BASED ENTITY DESIGN
• A transaction usually means a sequence of information exchange and related work (such as
database updating) that is treated as a unit for the purposes of satisfying a request and for
ensuring database integrity.

29. TRANSACTION BASED ENTITY DESIGN(CONT.)
•Some Example

30. LINQ
• LINQ (Language Integrated Query) is a Microsoft programming model and methodology that
essentially adds formal query capabilities into Microsoft .NET-based programming languages.

31. LINQ(CONT.)
• Some Example

32. HOST
• A network host is a computer or
other device connected to a
computer network. A network host
may offer information resources,
services, and applications to users
or other nodes on the network.

33. ADMIN PANEL
• Admin panel is the tool used for the management of a system.
• This Admin panel provides us basic management functionality to manage some operations.

34. ADMIN PANEL(CONT)• Some Example

35. ADMIN PANEL(CONT)
• Some Example

36. ADMIN PANEL(CONT)
• Some Example

37. SOA
Service-oriented architecture (SOA) is an approach used to create an architecture based upon the use of
services. Services (such as RESTful Web services) carry out some small function, such as producing data,
validating a customer, or providing simple analytical services.
In REST architecture http methods (POST, PUT, DELETE, GET) are used. Data exchange is provided
JSON objects and JSON arrays.

38. NFC
Near field communication (NFC) is a set of communication protocols that enable two electronic devices, one
of which is usually a portable device such as a smartphone, to establish communication by bringing them
within 4 cm (2 in) of each other.
Each full NFC devices can work in three modes:
• NFC card emulation—enables NFC-enabled devices such as smartphones to act like smart cards,
allowing users to perform transactions such as payment or ticketing.
• NFC reader/writer—enables NFC-enabled devices to read information stored on inexpensive NFC tags
embedded in labels or smart posters.
• NFC peer-to-peer—enables two NFC-enabled devices to communicate with each other to exchange
information in an adhoc fashion.

39. NFC tags are passive data stores which can be read, and under some circumstances written to, by an NFC
device. They typically contain data and are read-only in normal use, but may be rewritable. NFC tags can be
custom-encoded by their manufacturers or use the industry specifications. In our work, NFC uses to identify
patients and medicines.

40. TFS
Our project consist of different parts such as web api, android application so we shared these parts
among team members. While two group member interested in developing android application, other member
interests in developing web api, database process and queries. In this work sharing, especially members who
are interested in android application need to version control tool to provide working independently and faster.
In our search, we find that Visual Studio Version Control Tool TFS can be integrated with Android Studio.

41. Visual Studio Team Services provides a set of cloud-powered collaboration tools that work with your
existing IDE or editor, so your team can work effectively on software projects of all shapes and sizes.
Visual Studio Team Service pricing is free up to 5 user, so this is suitable for our team. Visual Studio Team
Service provides a URL that can be used as cloud server and team members are added to team project.
Our android project located there. Thus, team members can check in changes into cloud server and get
latest version before working on the project. This tool is very helpful for us during project development
process.

42. ANDROID BOOTSTRAP LIBRARY
• Android Bootstrap is an Android library which provides custom views styled according to the
Twitter Bootstrap Specification. This allows you to spend more time on development rather
than trying to get a consistent theme across your app, especially if you are already familiar
with the Bootstrap Framework.

43. Properties ;
Bootstrap Button
Bootstrap Button Group
Awesome Text View
Bootstrap Progress Bar
Bootstrap Label
Bootstrap Edit Text
Bootstrap Circle Thumbnail
BootstrapThumbnail
BootstrapWell
BootstrapDropDown

44. Examples

46. Android Asynchronous Http Client
LOOPJ Library
• An asynchronous callback-based Http client for Android built on top of
Apache’s HttpClient libraries. All requests are made outside of your app’s main UI thread, but any
callback logic will be executed on the same thread as the callback was created using Android’s
Handler message passing. You can also use it in Service or background thread, library will
automatically recognize in which context is ran.

47. Features;
 Compatible with Android API 23 and higher
 Make asynchronous HTTP requests, handle responses in anonymous callbacks
 HTTP requests happen outside the UI thread
 GET/POST params builder (RequestParams)
 Multipart file uploads with no additional third party libraries
 Streamed JSON uploads with no additional libraries
 Binary protocol communication with BinaryHttpResponseHandler
 Built-in response parsing into JSON with JsonHttpResponseHandler
 Saving response directly into file with FileAsyncHttpResponseHandler

48. Used in Loopj By Top Apps and Developers;
Instagram
•Instagram is the #1 photo app on android, with over 10million users
Pinterest
•Popular online pinboard. Organize and share things you love.
Frontline Commando (Glu Games)
•#1 first person shooting game on Android, by Glu Games.
Heyzap
•Social game discovery app with millions of users
Pose
•Pose is the #1 fashion app for sharing and discovering new styles
Thousands more apps…
•Async HTTP is used in production by thousands of top apps.

49. Android Beacon Library (Altbeacon)
• The AltBeacon specification defines the format of the advertisement message that Bluetooth Low
Energy proximity beacons broadcast.
• AltBeacon allows Android devices to use beacons much like iOS devices do. An app can request
to get notifications when one or more beacons appear or disappear.
• Any device with Android 4.3+ and a Bluetooth Low Energy chipset can detect beacons with this
library

50. CONCLUSION AND FUTURE WORK
In conclusion, emergency services need to integrated automation system includes that location
based patient tracking, medicine tracking that given to patient, instant patient information for
patient relatives and health staff. So, this project aimed to resolve this problem. This system
facilitates patient's and doctors life. Our main contribution is to ensure patient about all process in
emergency service for instance our system keeps track of patient's medicines according to given
date and hour in addition, our system provides informing patient's relative about patient's health
situation, another feature of our system is tracking patient location and giving information which is
about patient location to doctor, health staff and patient's relatives. Patient's location tracking is
important for patient's relatives especially who stay away from hospital. They feel more confident if
they can reach their patient's position whenever they want. Health staff and doctor must know
where patient is.

51. EPTS creates many areas for future works. Parts that will be explained below can be added as future works:
• Notification system can be included into system. When patients changes their position, patient's doctor,
patient's health staff and patient's relatives can be informed by the system concurrently. According to
patient's location data, patient's location map can be designed in detail and thanks to this map, patient's
relatives, patient's doctor and health staff can be informed about patient's position clearly.
• Messaging module can be included into system in this way patient and patient's relative can be informed
about patient's health status easily and whenever they want.

52. • Doctors can be rated on system by patients and patient's relatives, according to their performance.
Results which occur as a consequence of patients and patients' relatives votes can be shared as public
with other patients. According to shared doctor's rating, patients can be choose which doctor they want.
However, this situation may cause some problems such as deadlock. In other word, the most preferable
doctor always has the most rating. To solve this conflict, suitable algorithms can be developed by future
developers.

53. REFERENCES
Android Bootstrap, Retrieved (January 2016), https://github.com/Bearded-Hen/Android-Bootstrap
Android Loopj Library, Retrieved (March 2016), http://loopj.com/android-async-http/
Android Software Architecture, Retrieved (March, 2016),
http://www.tutorialspoint.com/android/android_architecture.htm
Bailey T., & Durrant-Whyte H. (2006). Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM). IEEE Xplore.
Beacon, Retrieved (January 2016), http://www.ibeacon.com/what-is-ibeacon-a-guide-to-beacons/
BCDS Solutions, Inventory RFID Tracking & Management Solutions. BCDS Solutions (Owner).

54. Darwish A. & Hassanien AE. (2011). Wearable and implantable wireless sensor network solutions for
healthcare monitoring.
Database, Retrieved (June 2016), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Database
D’SOUZA I., MA W., NOTOBARTOLO C., & Hopkins J. (2011). Real time location system for hospital
emergency response. 2011 from
http://doi.ieeecomputersociety.org/10.1109/MITP.2011.31
Gao T., Greenspan D., Welsh M., Juang R.R., & Alm A. (2005) Vital signs monitoring and patient tracking
over a wireless network. 27th Annual International Conference of the IEEE EMBS.
LAHTELA A., HASSINEN M., & JYLHÄ V. (2008). RFID and NFC in healthcare: Safety of hospitals
medication care. Pervasive Computing Technologies for Healthcare, Jan. 30 2008-Feb. 1 2008.
NFC, Retrieved (January 2016), http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/what-is-nfc-
and-why-is-it-in-your-phone-948410

55. Pharow P. & Blobel B. (2008). Mobile health requires mobile security: challenges, solutions, and
standardization. eHealth Competence Center, Regensburg University Hospital, Regensburg, Germany.
Prinz A., Menschner P., & Leimeister Jan M. (2012). Electronic data capture in healthcare—NFC as easy
way for self-reported health status information.
Priyadarshini R. Pennathura, Dapeng Caoa, Ann M. Bisantza, Li Lina, Rollin J. Fairbanksa, Robert L.
Wearsc, Shawna J. Perryd, Theresa K. Guarreraa, Jennifer L. Browne, & Zheng Suif (2011) Emergency
department patient-tracking system evaluation. National Center for Human Factors Engineering in
Healthcare
MedStar Institute for Innovation, USA.
Razi I., Awais A., & Asfandyar G. (2014) NFC based inventory control system for secure and efficient
communication. Department of Computer Science and IT, Lahore Leads University, Al-Khawarizmi Institute
of Computer Science, University of Engineering and Technology.