Whether it concerns inventory management and procurement, file tracking, administrative simplification, machine location, product traceability, or even people tracking, there are many aspects to consider. In this context, IoT technologies are extremely useful!
Throughout this article, we will focus on the benefits of good logistics in healthcare services and how to implement them. Stay tuned!
The challenges of hospital logistics
Hospitals and their challenges
While this has been especially true since the COVID-19 crisis, hospitals have always had to deal with significant material and human challenges. And of course, when people's lives are at stake, every minute counts. Among the most important challenges facing healthcare facilities are, for example:
- The ability of caregivers to optimize the management of medical records by easily tracking the services provided to each patient.
- Knowledge of each patient, to know which treatment to administer and avoid making mistakes.
- Optimization of the supply chain, enabling rapid access to all necessary medicines.
- The need to work quickly so as not to impact the effectiveness of care.
- The need to maintain optimal hygiene and safety conditions.
- The usefulness of tracking equipment and certain specific products.
- Guaranteed compliance with the cold chain and drug storage conditions.
- Essential adaptability in the face of unpredictable patient admissions and discharges...
Of course, since hospitals operate around the clock, the volume of data and material to be managed is phenomenal. From meals to laundry, files, beds, medical devices, and hygiene services, not to mention waste management, everything must be perfectly organized.
So, with emergency rooms and healthcare services under unprecedented pressure, it is essential to rely on the right tools. Hospital logistics aims to optimize the management of flows, whether physical, human, or material. The goal is certainly to increase the performance of all units, but also to ensure patient safety and employee well-being.
These are the challenges of optimizing the supply chain in hospitals.
The benefits of good hospital logistics
Optimizing hospital logistics means improving flows to eliminate all forms of waste. By centralizing data, having a perfect understanding of stock levels, and automating non-value-added tasks as much as possible, it becomes possible to focus solely on what matters most: saving lives. If we had to list the advantages of hospital logistics, we would say that it allows us to:
- Manage your inventory perfectly. You know in real time how much medication you have, whether you are approaching a shortage, and whether you need to restock.
- Track your machines and medical devices, saving you time and increasing visibility.
- Speed up care and thus limit the risks associated with medical emergencies.
- Keep track of medical records and bill patients with ease.
- Simplify communication between all hospital stakeholders.
- Improving the well-being of both healthcare staff and patients...
To ensure the smooth running of hospitals, it is therefore essential to focus on digital technology. Among the major technologies available for procurement, logistics tracking, and personnel management, RFID and BLE beacons are worth considering.
Here is what they are and what they can do.
Why use RFID and BLE in hospitals?
RFID and BLE: What are they?
RFID, or radio frequency identification, uses radio waves to communicate information. The system consists simply of a tag and a reader, capable of reading and processing the data it receives.
The tag consists of a circuit that stores information and an antenna capable of transmitting it. Depending on the type of technology chosen, you can store varying amounts of data and send it over distances ranging from a few centimeters to several dozen meters. The advantage of this technology is that you can detect tags without having to see them, which is very handy when you have several inventories to carry out! For example, a room containing 30 assets can be inventoried in 20 seconds.
The beacon, meanwhile, is a device measuring a few centimeters (the shape and thickness of a CHF 5 coin) that uses BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) technology. Equipped with a built-in battery, it emits its own signal. This technology is attractive due to its long range and low energy consumption. It is generally used when seeking precise geolocation of equipment.
These technologies are widely used for product tracking, real-time geolocation, and asset and people tracking. And as you might expect, they are also extremely effective at optimizing logistics in hospitals.
How can IoT technologies support your hospital logistics?
Let's not forget: caregivers are not logisticians. The solutions offered to them should therefore not increase their mental load or stress levels, but rather relieve them! This is why it is important to choose systems that are easy to use, intuitive, and flexible. IoT technologies are full of resources. They will enable you to manage flows and stocks optimally by uniquely identifying each product, file, or patient!
Whether the tags are located on a box, under a sample, in a bracelet, on a machine, or in a folder, this will give you instant visibility of the location of your patients and your products. To support you in this context, Solid has designed three distinct solutions:
SolAsset
To manage all your assets perfectly. Want to be able to locate your defibrillators, electrocardiographs, or ventilators, but don't know how? Wondering how to carry out quick and accurate inventories of your equipment? Need devices to track the life cycles of items?
Our system, based on RFID, BLE, or barcode technologies depending on your needs, is ideal for these different situations. The principle is simple: install tags on the items to be tracked and place readers throughout the hospital to identify and trace each one. Whether they are immobilized, undergoing maintenance, or currently in use, you will easily know.
SolCare
For inventory and medical service management. Our mobile solution is designed to save you valuable time by simplifying the administrative side of your business.
By simply listing the treatments performed on each patient, you not only limit the risk of errors, but you can also easily bill for your services. Similarly, barcode systems placed on tubes, labels, and other equipment are there to facilitate your tracking.
SolSample
Ideal for tracking your samples. With a smart shelf system, this solution identifies all tagged items you place on it and even tells you how much liquid is left in each vial.
As soon as your bottles or shelves start to run low, you can be alerted and restock.
Are you interested in improving your hospital logistics? If so, don't hesitate to contact us. Based on your specific needs and budget, we will offer you the most suitable solution. We will also take care of its deployment and any potential maintenance operations: with Solid, choose performance and peace of mind!
