McKesson Announces Live RFID Application for Real-time Tracking.Spartanburg Regional Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System is one of South Carolina’s largest healthcare systems with 588 beds, providing care to patients in Spartanburg, Cherokee and Union counties in South Carolina, and Polk and Rutherford counties in North Carolina. Medical Center is Using Horizon Real-Time Location System to Track IV Pumps PITTSBURGH -- McKesson, the world's largest healthcare services, automation and information technology company, today announced the implementation of Horizon Real-Time Location System[TM] , the company's new radio frequency identification See RFID. (RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) A data collection technology that uses electronic tags for storing data. The tag, also known as an "electronic label," "transponder" or "code plate," is made up of an RFID chip attached to an antenna. ) solution, at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center, Spartanburg, S.C. Following a comprehensive evaluation period Evaluation period The time interval over which funds assess a money manager's performance. , Spartanburg is using the RFID solution to wirelessly track and electronically record the location history of 550 intravenous (IV) infusion pumps throughout its facility. With the Horizon Real-Time Location System application tracking the exact location of infusion pumps, Spartanburg clinicians know with assurance whether IV pumps are readily available for patient use. Administrators can better track the pumps for technical upgrades and compliance as well as optimize use of an expensive equipment item. "IV pumps are vital to patient safety, so it's essential to let caregivers know promptly when and where they're available," said Ray Shingler, Spartanburg's chief information officer. "Each infusion pump can cost as much as $10,000 and requires regular software upgrades. Being able to track these devices via a wireless-based RTLS RTLS Real-Time Location System RTLS Return To Launch Site RTLS Run Time Library Services helps us to address multiple safety, compliance and asset utilization issues. The RF-technology is working so well that we look forward to integrating it with our existing McKesson applications, such as Horizon Surgical Manager[TM], to maximize patient throughput." Horizon Real-Time Location System, a key component of McKesson's RFID solution set, uses Spartanburg's existing 802.11 wireless network along with active RFID tags An RFID tag that has its own power source. Contrast with passive RFID tag. See RFID and RFID tag. affixed af·fix tr.v. af·fixed, af·fix·ing, af·fix·es 1. To secure to something; attach: affix a label to a package. 2. to all of the hospital's IV pumps. Using a standard Web-based browser, caregivers, bio-medical staff and administrative personnel can view a map of the facility to pinpoint the location of all tagged assets. Additionally, Spartanburg uses powerful alerts functionality to send automated text and e-mail alerts when an IV pump has entered off-limits area, such as a stairwell stair·well n. A vertical shaft around which a staircase has been built. stairwell Noun a vertical shaft in a building that contains a staircase Noun 1. or a building exterior. "McKesson is leading the way in integrating RFID technology with healthcare IT applications," said David Souerwine, president of McKesson's automation unit. "Our solution leverages the existing RF infrastructure within the hospital. Many companies are charging to install proprietary RF networks, and that's not a good use of capital. The successful go-live at Spartanburg is a critical milestone for us as we work to quickly develop and bring to market RFID-enabled solutions to help our hospital customers increase medication safety, improve productivity and lower the total cost of care." About Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System is one of South Carolina's largest community-based healthcare providers. Offering the latest in cancer, heart, women's and orthopedic care, SRHS SRHS Santa Rosa High School (Santa Rosa, CA) SRHS Southeast Raleigh High School (North Carolina) SRHS San Rafael High School (San Rafael, CA) is also home to South Carolina's only accredited accredited recognition by an appropriate authority that the performance of a particular institution has satisfied a prestated set of criteria. accredited herds cattle herds which have achieved a low level of reactors to, e.g. stroke and chest pain centers, in addition to the Village at Pelham Noun 1. Pelham - a bit with a bar mouthpiece that is designed to combine a curb and snaffle bit - piece of metal held in horse's mouth by reins and used to control the horse while riding; "the horse was not accustomed to a bit" in Greer. SRHS has been named a "Top 100" hospital for computer technology and has received awards for patient satisfaction and nursing care. In 2005, Gibbs Regional Cancer Center became one of only six cancer centers on the globe to form an alliance with the world-famous M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. For more information: www.spartanburgregional.com. About McKesson McKesson Corporation, currently ranked 16 on the FORTUNE 500, is a healthcare services and information technology company dedicated to helping its customers deliver high-quality healthcare by reducing costs, streamlining processes, and improving the quality and safety of patient care. Over the course of its 173-year history, McKesson has grown by providing pharmaceutical and medical-surgical supply management across the spectrum of care; healthcare information technology for hospitals, physicians, homecare, and payors; hospital and retail pharmacy automation; and services for manufacturers and payors designed to improve outcomes for patients. For more information: www.mckesson.com. |
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