Real-time location technologies (RTLS) have become a nursing satisfaction, retention, and safety tool for some of the nation’s largest health systems, saving massive amounts of nurses’ time and upwards of $14 billion annually. On this episode of FINN Voices, host Beth Friedman, Sr. Partner at FINN Partners, talks with Dave Wiedman, Chief Commercial Officer at Vizzia Technologies. Their conversation focuses on the challenges and opportunities faced by nursing professionals when trying to find, manage and use patient equipment on the unit.
Listen to the Conversation
Takeaways
- One of the biggest time wasters and satisfaction impediments for nursing teams is the inability to find the right patient equipment (when they need it) for patient care, with nurses spending up to 60 minutes per shift searching for supplies.
- Financial metrics used by health system executives to calculate a return on investment for RTLS technologies include reduction in search time, better use of existing patient equipment and lower Capex spending on equipment (tied to increased utilization).
- When implemented properly, location systems also ensure processes and workflows are implemented to prevent patient equipment from traveling from one patient room to another without going through the proper cleaning regimen by using cross-contamination alerts.
- Nurses want and need technology to work for them, and it is easy for them to move from one employer to another. Processes and systems that correctly support nursing teams have a positive impact on retention and recruitment.
- Location systems not only monitor device location, they can also monitor staff location and send alerts if safety is at risk. This capability is especially important in high-incident healthcare facilities to improve nurse safety and reduce workplace violence.
About the Show
FINN Voices
Amplifying the power of health innovation to improve people’s lives.
FINN Voices amplifies the power of health innovation and information technology. Hosted by health experts from FINN Partners, each episode offers a peek behind the curtain of innovation with healthcare’s leading changemakers. We talk about their ideas and challenges along the way; continually shaping critical conversations and introducing the new health technologies that lie ahead.
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