Page 7 - April 2017 Newspaper

MedsMeet Changes Healthcare

Paradigm with Wireless Technology

that Tracks Equipment and Patients

for Efficiency and Safety

BY VANESSA ORR that patients wear do not
identify them by name
While wireless location but only by a number,
tracking technology is not a patients’ identities are
new thing - shipping com- not compromised. “The
panies use it every day - its patient tracking system
benefits have really not has a unique identifier,
been explored in the health- so we don’t know who
care industry. MedsMeet, a the patient is,” explained
Florida-based company co- Mabey. “All we know is
founded by Dr. Michael that hospital band #1
Zahalsky and Brandon went into a room; only
Mabey, is hoping to change the hospital knows who
that. Dr. Michael Zahalsky #1 is. This helps ensure
“In the last five years, HIPAA compliance be -
Magic Band technology has cause patient data does
been used in amusement parks and on not leave the hospital.”
cruise lines to provide information about Mabey believes that this technology
population flow,” explained Dr. Zahalsky. could be of special importance in pedi-
“Our question was how do you imple- atric wards, where it is imperative to
ment this type of technology in a hospital keep track of young patients. “You may
setting? How do you utilize it in the have 40 kids checked in, and this way,
medical field to improve efficiency and you know where they all are,” he
safety?” explained. “If the hospital doesn’t want
MedsMeet is designed to provide wire- them in certain areas, for example, near
less location services for tracking people, exit doors, an alert will be sent to nurses’
tools and equipment in hospitals and iPhones and desktops when a child is not
healthcare facilities. where he or she is supposed to be.
“We have created a way to track surgi- “This not only mitigates risk, but can
cal trays in and out of ovens, to and from actually prevent a problem from happen-
surgical rooms, and in and out of storage ing,” he continued, adding that the tech-
rooms, so that when a doctor asks for a nology can be customized to each hospi-
specific tray, they know where it is. This tal setting. For example, alerts can be
way, they always have the right surgical sent to anyone within 100 feet of the exit
tools, which saves time,” said Mabey. door, or to staff members on the entire
“When you have a beacon on every floor.
single significant tray or piece of operat- Dr. Zahalsky believes that the same
ing room equipment, it can’t get lost or technology that is used in Walt Disney
stolen,” added Dr. Zahalsky. “This tech- World for population management - to
nology wasn’t used before because RFID help the company determine how to dis-
tags couldn’t be placed on trays cleaned tribute people so that a specific park
in an autoclave, but we’ve solved that doesn’t get too crowded - can also be
issue; we’re one of the only companies in used to increase efficiencies in healthcare
the world offering auto-clave safe track- facilities. “From an administrative per-
ing technology.” spective, it could be used to see how long
Mabey, who was previously in charge it takes for staff to perform certain tasks
of developing, designing and deploying and to point out bottlenecks,” he
this same type of technology for Walt explained.
Disney World and different cruise ship “In the case of an emergency, it could
lines, has redefined the hardware and let administrators know if everyone was
software to specifically meet healthcare out of the hospital; in an assisted living
business models. In addition to using the facility or rehab center, it could let staff
technology to locate and protect equip- know if a patient was left in a bathroom,
ment, it can also be utilized to keep or was in need of special assistance,” he
patients safe, and to track staff workflow. continued.
“This technology can track patients or “We’re all looking for efficiencies in
guests who log into the hospital to make healthcare, and while conceptually we
sure that they are on the right floor or are knew that tracking technology existed,
authorized to be in the section of the up until now it hasn’t been implement-
hospital that they’re visiting,” he ed,” he added. “We’ve figured out a way
explained. “It can also be used to deter- to do it.”
mine if a patient has wandered from a
room, or fallen in the bathroom so that To learn more, visit www.MedsMeet.com
staff can go check on them.” or call (407) 508-0063.
Because the wristbands or necklaces

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