The COVID-19 pandemic was a wake-up call for all - that we are never too far from a health crisis of global proportion.
RFiD Discovery, a provider of real-time location and tracking solutions for the healthcare sector, has unveiled its new Automated Contact Tracing for Infection Control solution.
This innovative technology aims to assist hospitals in swiftly identifying potential exposure events, thereby supporting infection prevention teams and reducing the spread of healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs).
Every year, HCAIs affect millions of patients globally, often resulting in prolonged hospital stays, increased mortality rates, and significant strain on clinical resources. Traditional manual contact tracing methods can be laborious and frequently incomplete, especially in complex clinical settings. RFiD Discovery’s latest solution addresses this issue by automating the collection of accurate proximity data, which facilitates quicker and more informed decision-making during infection incidents.
“Effective infection control depends on having the right information at the right time,” stated Arron Duddin, general manager at RFiD Discovery. “Our automated contact tracing solution gives infection prevention teams clear visibility of interactions between patients, staff, and assets, allowing them to respond quickly, reduce risk, and maintain safer hospital environments.”
Real-time insights and enhanced safety
Utilising Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology, the solution enables patients to wear BLE wristbands while staff carry BLE-enabled ID badges. When individuals or tagged assets come into close proximity, the system automatically logs the interaction, capturing details such as duration, distance, time, and location without requiring manual input.
BLE gateway readers and anchors are strategically installed throughout the hospital to capture this vital location and proximity data, feeding it into a central platform. This platform provides real-time alerts, visual dashboards, and comprehensive reports. Upon identifying an infected individual, infection control teams can quickly see who has potentially been exposed, where interactions occurred, and which areas may require targeted cleaning or further investigation.
Key benefits include:
- Faster identification of exposure risks: Timely containment of potential outbreaks is supported.
- Improved safety: Enhanced patient and staff safety achieved through accurate, automated contact tracing.
- Reduced manual tracing: The system alleviates the burden on clinical and operational staff.
- High-precision risk modelling: Configurable risk rules tailored to various infectious diseases and hospital policies.
- Seamless integration: Quick implementation and compatibility with existing systems.
This solution is designed to integrate seamlessly with existing hospital infrastructure, allowing for deployment as an entry-level system or an expansion to support broader real-time location services, including asset tracking and patient flow optimisation.
