Western Maryland Regional Medical Center uses real-time locating system (RTLS) technology to do more than track its assets. The Cumberland facility uses RTLS to monitor patient movements and prevent elopement, according to an article on the Health Facilities Management website.
"We had a unique opportunity because we were building a new hospital and we wanted to build a state-of-the-art facility that would accommodate patient needs using available technology," Jeffery O'Neal, LCPC, systems director for the medical center's behavioral and occupational health services department, said in the article.
RTLS has provided an extra layer of safety to patients and staff, according to the article. Prior to having RTLS, the unit averaged 14 cases involved patients' leaving the unit but not the facility. Since RTLS implementation four years ago, there have been no elopements from the department, the article said.
Last April, the hospital installed staff-assistance software and badges equipped with call buttons linked to the RTLS system to provide greater safety and security to nurses and other staff in the behavioral health unit.
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