guardPLUS - RFID patient tracking system solution for innovative healthcare

description

In the Spring 2010, I was part of the ECUAD research team, with 8 other colleagues, for a government funded research project to identify the potential for using RFID tracking for Emergency Department patients at the BC Children’s Hospital. 

This project started when ECUAD is approached by Dr. Geoffrey Hung from the Emergency Department at the BC Children’s Hospital about the notion of patient tracking in the waiting room because people had literally disappeared while waiting to be processed on busy nights. From there, we partnered with a local company, GuardRFID, and shared a goal to dramatic improve the monitoring interface at the nursing station and the patient experience at Emergency Department.

By visiting the Emergency Department and mocking up different scenerios at the studio, we investigated the potential for reducing redundancies in workflow as well as errors in data input and output. As a result, we ideated an integrated system that could increase efficacy in patient tracking and information management. 

On coming to Triage the patient would be assigned an RFID tag. Many of the hospital’s paper forms were redesigned for display and data input/output on a workstation, and/or different mobile devices, to minimize input errors and improve workflow efficiency.

With the new system, doctors could review the nurse’s preliminary surveys and assessments, and enter his own notes and diagnosis on their mobile devices. The system would also permit doctors to order diagnostic tests, dispense pharmaceuticals and setup a follow-up consultation.