Your 10-Step Plan to Boost Healthcare Efficiency  with Location Technology and Workflow Automation

As we approach the end of 2024, the healthcare sector has increasingly relied on advanced location technologies to elevate health standards and optimize workflow processes within hospital facilities. The use of RTLS, IoT, artificial intelligence, geofence and blockchain systems is transforming the workflow process in healthcare. This blog goes deeper into explaining the process of improving health standards as well as streamlining hospital systems and functionality through modern positioning technology and workflow automation in healthcare.

Step 1: Implement Advanced Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS) 

Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS) involve the use of RFID, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Ultra-Wideband (UWB), as well as Wi-Fi technologies to obtain real-time information on the location of patients, staff and medical equipment. These systems are basic to the workflow process in healthcare; as a result, hospitals are in a position to manage resources and enhance operational productivity.

Cutting-edge location technology providers like Mapsted are introducing new features for RTLS in healthcare, offering more precise and timely updates. This advanced technology not only enhances location accuracy and frequency of data updates but also seamlessly integrates RTLS data with hospital management systems, streamlining workflow automation.

For example, by knowing the exact location of wheelchairs, ventilators and other critical equipment, hospitals can minimize the amount of time the staff uses in looking for the equipment. This efficiency gain can go a long way to boosting staff efficiency and decreasing patient waiting time for sometimes-needed procedures.

Step 2: Integrate IoT and AI for Advanced Workflow Automation 

The use of IoT and AI for the automation of healthcare workflow is extremely important in the contemporary world. IoT devices can generate a lot of data from various sources, such as patient monitors, wearables and many others in the health facility. Programs evaluate this data to find usage patterns and requirements and automatically perform numerous tasks, making the effectiveness of advanced digital solutions for healthcare higher.

AI applications and machine learning models are capable of predicting patient admission, efficient working timetabling of the staff and possible equipment maintenance requirements, among others. Other IoT-connected devices also assist in monitoring and data gathering in real-time, supporting the notion of efficient work progress in the workflow process in healthcare.

Step 3: Utilize Geofencing for Enhanced Security and Workflow Automation 

Geofencing technology sets the geographic boundaries within the hospital setting. If a tracked entity breaches these boundaries, certain activities occur; for example, the staff is notified and security measures are initiated. Closely related to the concept of automation, geofencing helps to organize the workflow automation in healthcare since all the major events are to be considered and responded to, as well as manage the distribution of scarce resources.

Current advances in geofencing technologies provide enhanced accuracy and connectivity compared to previous ones, providing more specific means and instant reactivity. This is especially important to enhancing healthcare quality and improving workflow processes.

Step 4: Conduct Comprehensive Workflow Analysis in Healthcare 

Workflow analysis in healthcare is crucial in determining the gaps in the delivery of services and coming up with ways of closing these gaps. By employing location data, hospitals can acquire a better understanding of space usage and occupancy, staff trajectories, or patient circulations. This data can be represented using powerful analytical tools that help one conduct an intricate workflow analysis in healthcare.

Findings based on observational data can then be used to plan resources, redesign the workflow process in healthcare and optimize the layout of the area. This is a significant analytical approach to improving operational performance and healthcare delivery by workflow automation in healthcare.

For instance, analyzing where the nurses move may show spots where they tend to stay for a long time, a sign that points to layout or process redesign.

Step 5: Implement Digital Solutions for Healthcare Integration 

Applications like EHRs, Telehealth, or PMS can be improved by adopting location technologies as a part of digital solutions for healthcare. Including RTLS with EHRs guarantees real-time updates and data consistency, while for telehealth solutions, patient data is real-time for remotely monitoring and appropriate interventions.

These integrations prove beneficial in the simple reduction of the workload as well as avoiding cases of negligence in the manual entry of patients’ information while enhancing higher standards of patient care through workflow automation.

Step 6: Optimize Asset Management with Location Technology 

Best practices in managing assets ensures hospitals run properly. Location technology such as  Mapsted’s cutting-edge IoT solutions offer real-time information on the status and location of medical equipment to guarantee its effective usage and accessibility. This ensures that there is minimum time wasted and there are no hold-ups in the delivery of healthcare services, thus improving the efficiency of the workflow process in healthcare.

Other benefits of adopting advanced location technology include predictive maintenance, which entails using facts to maintain equipment before it breaks down. These measures, taken and observed, prevent disruption of operations and maintain high health standards at all times.

Step 7: Enhance Patient Flow Management with Real-Time Data 

The admission, discharge and transfer of patients also play an important role in the functioning of a hospital. Location technology offers a means of tracking patients’ movements in real-time, enabling streamlined management of admissions, transfers and discharges. This means using an evidence-based approach for effective bed management, which is central to this and increases wait time, hence improving the healthcare workflow.

Sophisticated patient tracking solutions cover both monitoring and reporting and make use of innovations like location technologies to give real-time updates and/or to trigger automated alerts that can help support patient care processes and schedules. For instance, when a patient is supposed to be discharged, the system can alert the housekeeping section to get the room ready for the next patient, hence improving bed utilization and overall workflow automation in healthcare.

Step 8: Improve Staff Coordination and Communication 

Hospital personnel must be able to communicate effectively with each other and coordinate properly to ensure the implementation of successful healthcare workflow automation. Staff location keeps track of the locations of all staff members at any given time, thereby helping to respond faster to catastrophes or simply effective allocation of tasks. This improves the global flow concept in healthcare because it makes it possible to arrange workers in the best way possible to meet their responsibilities.

New developments in coordinating staff equipment include the ability to integrate with communications systems and the sharing of real-time information, which enhances operation efficiency and digital solutions for healthcare.

For example, advanced analytics can reveal peak times for patient admissions, allowing hospitals to adjust staffing levels accordingly. This proactive approach ensures that resources are adequately allocated, improving overall efficiency and patient care standards through workflow automation in healthcare.

Step 9: Leverage Blockchain for Secure Data Management 

Blockchain technology provides an opportunity for secure and transparent storage of healthcare information. Pertaining to data, Blockchain has a way of improving data security and data integrity since the information recorded in it is distributed and cannot be altered. This is important, especially in observing good health standards that would also allow compliance with standards set by the law.

Combining blockchain with location technology offers an extra layer of protection for location data and guarantees that all data entered is correct and saved safely. This integration helps the workflow automation in healthcare by offering accurate information that may be utilized in decision-making and redesigning the workflow process in healthcare.

Step 10: Foster a Culture of Continuous Improvement and Innovation 

For hospitals to reap the benefits of location technologies, they need to cultivate a culture of optimization and innovation. Promoting the use of technologies among the staff and engaging them in training programs means that the maximum benefits can be achieved by these digital solutions for healthcare.

The management can also encourage innovation by putting feedback systems in place whereby staff members can report any problem or new ideas. It is important that hospitals update their processes and use the most advanced technology to ensure a high standard of patient care is given.

Conclusion 

Location technology is very promising for healthcare and hospital workflow as we near 2025. Implementing advanced RTLS, IoT and AI, applying geofencing will create a powerful impact on optimizing the hospital’s performance and increasing the quality of the medical service through healthcare workflow automation. The adoption of these digital solutions for healthcare is imperative to upgrading its infrastructure and taking enhanced care of patients.

If you enjoyed our insights on improving healthcare efficiency, don’t miss our blog on the Top 8 Healthcare Technology Trends to Watch in 2024 and our video on how to Transform Patient Care and Healthcare Facility Efficiencies With Location-Based Technology.