Supporting the new normal of medical device tracking
PervasID's advanced RFID technology transforms how hospitals track critical medical equipment, enabling faster patient care while eliminating the $1 billion overspend on equipment leasing across UK and US hospitals.
Key challenge this project addressed
During the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals faced unprecedented challenges that exposed inefficiencies in tracking and managing critical medical equipment. With the influx of patients and high demand for supplies and equipment, the ability to locate and administer critical devices in a timely fashion had a direct impact on patient care.
Didi (Emmanuel) Akinluyi, PhD, who leads a Clinical Engineering team in a large English NHS organization, recognized the need for better tracking solutions: "We work to maximize the value drawn from medical devices. We want to enable a leaner, more efficient use of mission critical medical devices, making more available at the point of need and more manageable through their life. Thus, providing visibility and leading to better care for our patients."
The challenge was finding a solution that offered:
▪ High accuracy in locating equipment quickly
▪ Affordability for widespread implementation
▪ Performance that would deliver real value
▪ Measurable ROI to justify the investment
Research revealed that many hospitals' inefficient tracking of mission-critical assets led to over-leasing devices, with an estimated $1 billion overspend across hospitals in the UK and US alone.
How PervasID technology solved the challenge
While active (battery-powered) RFID tags can offer good reading distance and response time, they come with significant drawbacks:
▪ High cost per tag
▪ Ongoing maintenance requirements for battery replacement
▪ Limited application to only the most expensive equipment
▪ Long ROI timeline
▪ Resource requirements for maintenance
PervasID proposed an innovative solution using advanced reader technology that would make passive (battery-free) tags perform more like active tags but without the associated costs and maintenance issues.
To validate the solution, the team set up a testing environment that duplicated the hospital setting where the equipment would be used. They also installed an identical environment with a conventional passive RFID solution for comparison.
The results were impressive:
▪ Read accuracy improved by 50% compared to conventional passive solutions, achieving well above 99% accuracy
▪ The ability to monitor and accurately log direction improved by over 30% in the most challenging scenarios
▪ Cost savings made the solution accessible to hospitals of any size, not just well-funded private facilities
Measurable results and business outcomes
The implementation of PervasID's advanced RFID solution for medical device tracking delivered multiple benefits:
Improved patient care: By ensuring critical equipment can be located quickly and accurately, medical professionals can respond faster to patient needs, ultimately improving care outcomes.
Cost savings: The solution helps hospitals avoid over-leasing equipment, potentially saving millions of dollars across the healthcare system.
Labor efficiency: Less time spent searching for equipment means medical staff can focus more on patient care rather than administrative tasks.
Accessibility: Unlike expensive active RFID solutions, this technology makes advanced tracking affordable for hospitals of all sizes, including small regional facilities.
Data-driven decisions: As Didi states regarding the future of this technology, it comes down to "opening up more possibilities to exploit the data for patient benefit."
The solution demonstrated that even amid the challenges of a global pandemic, innovation could address long-standing inefficiencies and create lasting improvements in healthcare delivery.
Disrupting today for a better tomorrow
