This research poster summarizes technologies that improve efficiency in hospitals. It finds that radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, iPad use in radiology, vascular pattern identification, ultrasonic sensors for tracking, and live endoscopic video all help to enhance efficiency. RFID technology improves processes, reduces costs and errors. iPads streamline radiologist work flows. Vascular patterns and ultrasonic sensors aid patient identification and tracking. Live endoscopic video benefits education, diagnostics and documentation. Overall, the technologies highlighted save time, lower expenses and improve workflows to increase both provider and patient satisfaction.

1. RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATION DESIGN © 2012
www.PosterPresentations.com
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
AND
CONCLUSIONS
REFERENCES
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The
University
of
Texas
at
Aus.n,
Health
Informa.cs
and
Health
IT
Cer.ficate
Program,
Summer
2015
Shilpa
Jose
and
Ashley
McDonald
Technologies
Improving
Hospital
Efficiency
METHODS
CONTACT
INFORMATION
This project was completed with guidance from Mr. Bob Ligon.
We used Google Scholar and PubMed to locate articles for this
poster. We used keywords such as technology, efficiency, and
hospital setting. Articles from the Journal of Commonwealth, the
Journal of Information Management, the Geriatric Nursing Journal,
Journal of the American College of Radiology and the Journal of
Robotics and Autonomous Systems were reviewed. We used
articles published between 2001 and 2014 that reported on the core
topic, “Technologies Improving Hospital Efficiencies”.
Information was incorporated from a face-to-face interview with UT
Southwestern Medical Center Vice President of Application
Services, Ms. Kathryn Flores. Additionally, we used facts from
videos titled, “Creative Destruction of Medicine” from Dr. Eric Topol
and a presentation by the Austin Chapter of HIMSS featuring Dr.
Kenneth Shine titled, “21s Century Medicine – A Team Sport”.
1. Silow-Carroll, Sharon (2012). Using Electronic Health Records to
Improve Quality and Efficiency: The Experiences of Leading
Hospitals. Commonwealth Fund pub. 17, 1608
2. Ferrari, M., DNP, RN, Harrison, B., PhD, APRN, GNP, BC,
Rawashdeh, O., PhD, PE, Hammond, R., PhD, Avery, Y.,
BSN, Rawashdeh, M., MS, Sa’deh, W., MS, Maddens, M.,
MD, et al (2011). Clinical Feasibility Trial of a Motion Detection
System for Fall Prevention in Hospitalized Older Adult Patients.
Geriatric Nursing 33, 177-183. doi:10.1016/j.gerinurse
2011.11.011
3. Han, Y., Han, M., Hyungtae, C., Hong, M., Hahn, H., BSN, et al
(2001). Tracking of a moving object using ultrasonic sensors
based on a virtual ultrasonic image. Robotics and Autonomous
Systems 36, 11-19. doi:10.1016/s0921-8890(01)00126-9
4. Yazici ,Hulya Julie (2014). An exploratory analysis of hospital
perspectives on real time information requirements and
perceived benefits of RFID technology for future adoption.
International Journal of Information Management.34, 603-621,
doi:10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2014.04.010
5. Berkowitz, S., MD, Kung, J., MD, Eisenberg, R., MD, JD,
Donohoe, K., MD, Tsai, L., MD, PhD, MSc, Slanetz, P., MD,
MPH, et al. (2014). Resident iPad Use: Has It Really Changed
the Game?. Journal of the American College of Radiology 11,
180-184. doi:10.1016/j.jacr.2013.04.017
PURPOSE
The purpose of this research was to determine technologies that
improve efficiency in various ways throughout hospitals.
Rising costs and increased losses due to wastes have led
healthcare employers, consumers, and governmental agencies to
demand that health plans and providers improve the efficiency of
healthcare delivery. Exact estimates vary, but analysts indicate that
inefficiencies in administration, operations, and clinical care total
billions of dollars per year. The Institute for Healthcare Improvement
(IHI), a leader in quality improvement research and practice,
incorporated the need to increase efficiency into one of its core
teaching concepts—the Triple Aim. Improving hospital efficiency is a
critical goal for managers and policy makers.
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission defines efficiency as
using fewer inputs to get the same or better outcomes. Efficiency
combines concepts of resource use and quality. Technology is
arguably the best tool to accomplish the objectives of efficiency,
keeping its attributes. Technology provides numerous channels to
maximize efficiency of hospital operations; therefore, it saves time.
Innovative devices can help greatly improve the way staff carry out
tasks. These cutting-edge approaches can either speed up existing
processes or allow new, more flexible ways of carrying out the job.
Figure 5. iPad Use Among Radiology Residents
Figure 1. Live Video in Surgeries for Education and Diagnostics
Karl Storz’s Cutting Edge Medical Video Technology is Currently Used at
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
• Surgeries Live and Video Taped for Educational Purposes Eliminating Distant Balcony Viewing
• Full High Definition Video Able to be Saved for Patient Procedural Documentation Purposes
• Live Video Consultation Availability for Physicians with In-Body Live Endoscope in Full HD
• Real Time Pathology Diagnostics Made by Endoscope Viewing, Improving Surgical Efficiency
Radio
Frequency
IdenLficaLon,
also
Known
as
Barcode
Scanning
Saves
Time,
Money
and
Improves
Safety
in
Hospitals
• Real Time Asset Tracking, Management of Patient Conditions, Staff Movement
• Reduced Medical Errors, Medication Safety System, Reduced Data Entry Errors
• Efficiency through Process Innovation, Delivery Process, and Ease of Product Location
• Increased Patient Security with Immediate Verification for Identity and Medications
iPad
Use
in
Radiology
is
Making
Healthcare
Providers
More
Efficient
and
VersaLle
iPads Used Among Radiology Residents
• iPad Applications for Radiology Image
Reading and Patient Explanation
• Reading Medical Journals and
Educational Materials
• Final Radiology Image Readouts
• Dictating Medical Reports and Patient
Documentation
• Improves Patient Safety with Accurate Patient Identification, including Unresponsive Patients
• Provides Efficient Patient Admission and Registration Process with Verified Identification
• Confirms Physician Identification before Submitting Prescriptions for Controlled Substances
• Integrates into Patient’s Electronic Health Record and Helps to Prevent Against Fraud
UT
Southwestern,
Parkland
Hospital
and
Children’s
Medical
Center
of
Dallas
to
incorporate
with
Enterprise
Master
PaLent
Index
We would like to thank Mr. Bob Ligon, Mr. Michael Field, University
of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Vice President of Application
Services, Ms. Kathryn Flores, and Parkland Hospital Application
Systems Analyst / Senior Programmer, Mr. Justin Armstrong.
Ashley McDonald
AshleyDMcDonald@icloud.com
214-478-7886
Shilpa Jose
Shilpamodiyil@gmail.com
817-694-9494
Figure 3. Ultrasonic Sensors Used in Patient Tracking
Dell Children’s Hospital of Central Texas is Using
Ultrasonic Sensor Tracking for Both Patients, Patient’s Parent & Providers
Technology offers countless opportunities to maximize efficiency
within clinical and business operations. According to our review of
new and innovative technologies, the majority of healthcare facilities
use advanced technologies to improve performance which impacts
factors like saving time, reducing costs, improving workflow and
reducing errors. Here we highlight technologies that are being used
to help hospitals enhance their efficiency and patient satisfaction.
Efficiency generated by cutting-edge technology benefits both
healthcare providers and patients; therefore increasing patient
satisfaction scores.
• The RFID technology had a tremendous impact on the improved
hospital efficiency with process innovation, real time tracking and
monitoring of medical assets, and staff movement.4
• RFID Technology played a significant role in cost reduction,
productivity improvements, process automation, reduction of
labor costs, transaction errors and shrinkage due to theft.4
• iPads used in the Radiology department made workflow more
simple and convenient. The study showed that 88% of the iPad
uses were the radiology applications which facilitated the
radiology image readings and explanations to the patients.
Reading medical journals, final radiology readouts and dictating
reports were the additional ways iPads made improvements in
efficiency within the radiology department.5
• Vascular pattern technology is a secure way to accurately identify
patients quickly regardless of health status as well as verify
physician authorization for prescribing controlled substances.2
• Ultrasonic sensor provides system wide efficiency while patient
tracking, room status tracking and even family member and
physician tracking, all while coordinating with smart phones.3
• Live endoscopic video technology provides both real time
education, diagnostics and detailed patient documentation.1