Smart digital solution enhances medical equipment utilisation and saves costs
In the future, healthcare and service personnel at The University Medical Center of Groningen (UMCG) won’t waste valuable time searching for medical equipment. With a few taps on their phone, they will be able to quickly find what they need, be it infusion pumps, beds, or any other necessary items.
As part of a large transformation of the hospital, they have decided to implement Systematics’ IoT platform and Search & Find solution. They believe this will help them find equipment more easily, optimise stock levels, and make maintenance and cleaning processes more efficient through automation.
Hospitals worldwide are discovering new, innovative ways to maintain high-quality patientcare as they confront increasing pressure. One such solution involves digitalising workflows to manage the growing demands on healthcare facilities.
UMCG is one of many healthcare organisations seeking to modernise and future-proof their hospital. As part of doing so, they recently signed an agreement with Systematic to improve operational efficiency and streamline patient flows using Systematics’ IoT platform and Search & Find solution.
The solution enables real-time tracking of hospital equipment, including devices, beds, and even people. Additionally, it supports advanced process management by generating notifications and tasks based on tracking and status events.
More time spent on patients
In light of the effects they have experienced testing the solution, UMCG anticipates multiple benefits of implementing Search & Find. It will help healthcare workers save time by easily locating equipment, allowing them to focus more on patient care.
Additionally, they believe that optimised stock levels will lead to significant cost savings for the hospital. Maintenance and cleaning processes will also become more efficient when they are supported with tasks triggered by tracking and status events triggering just-in-time service tasks.
Moreover, the implementation is expected to pave the way for future advancements in hospital management.
“In the long term, we expect to reduce the amount of equipment as we gain insights into its usage, thus making us more cost-effective," says Peter Mees, Innovation Manager at UMCG.
Towards Smart Hospital standards
The implementation of Search & Find is part of a broader transformation of the hospital. In addition to renovating the UMCG building, they aim to optimise processes for the benefit of patients, staff, and cost-effectiveness.
“The main objective of the transformation is to modernise and future-proof our hospital so that we can continue to offer high-quality care, research, and education. Establishing a track and trace infrastructure will support various current and future use cases. It’s an important step towards achieving Smart Hospital standards.”
Establishing a track-and-trace infrastructure is a pivotal undertaking that demands comprehensive hardware and software enhancements. Systematic will supply the software and assist the hospital in implementing it to achieve its full potential.
Facts about the University Medical Center of Groningen
- One of the largest hospitals in the Netherlands.
- The largest employer in the Northern Netherlands.
- It employs more than 12,000 people.
