GE pilots RFID system to monitor patient safety
GE Healthcare has begun trials of its RFID-enabled Smart Patient Room health-monitoring system at New York’s Bassett Medical Center, according to eWeek.
As part of GE’s Healthymagination initiative, RFID sensors are installed in soap and sanitizer dispensers to determine if medical personnel are following hygiene and washing their hands before and after seeing a patient; among other things.
The system also tracks when patients get in and out of bed to help prevent falls, as well as clinical roundups to ensure that clinicians check in on patients at regular intervals.
The platform also includes optical sensors, facial recognition, RFID tags, computer vision algorithms, cameras and speakers installed in existing hospital rooms to monitor patient safety and reduce medical errors.
According to Scott Gallagher, a senior consultant for GE Healthcare, an artificial intelligence engine sits on top of the RFID signals. “The monitoring system then issues an alert when it detects a risk, such as patient movement or facial expressions indicating a possible stroke. A doctor or nurse can then check on the patient to either make sure the patient is safe or start treatment.”
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